Rivers United send Gombe United down to NNL News

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Rivers United send Gombe United down to NNL

By Daily Sports on September 4, 2017

Bernard Ovoke scored a brace and Bolaji Sakin fired home an extraordinary strike for Rivers to confirm their safety and at the same time drop Gombe down to the lower league on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

Ovoke scored twice from the spot, before Bolaji Sakin’s extraordinary strike on 90 minute put the game beyond redemption for the visitors.

Rivers have 52 points and a healthy goals difference and Gombe remain second from bottom on 43 points.

Rivers United experienced goalkeeper, Sunday Rotimi, was forced into an early minute save on third minute when Abdulwaheed Afolabi let go a ferocious strike from the edge of the box which Rotimi went down early enough to beat out.

Two minutes later, ‘The Pride of Rivers’ came close to taking the lead when Christian Weli’s strike marginally went off target on the far post.

The home side continued enjoying their territorial advantage, bossing their guests with precision. Their ball possession and inter-change of passes was almost rewarded on 17 minutes, when Bernard Ovoke’s curling free kick near the area missed target by the whiskers.

Raising their urgency with every touch on the ball, the home side who are desperate for a win to stay clear of the drop on the standings, kept pushing forward, putting The Savannah Scorpions on the cusp time and again.

Ovoke grabbed his brace on the night when he converted a second penalty kick on 65 minute.

Again, Ojobo had his hand on it as his cross from the right was headed into play by Emeka Ogbugh but defender Akeem Balogun kicked the ball against his own hand in a frantic effort to clear the ball.

The referee pointed to the spot and Ovoke took up the responsibility send the goalkeeper the wrong way.

•Photo shows Bernard Ovoke.

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 4, 2017