An unlucky Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, on Thursday at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt conceded in each half to lose 2-0 to Rivers
United FC in a rescheduled match day 9 fixture.
The Saraki Boys started the game brightly and looked like a side which may cause the Pride of Rivers an upset with their ping-pong passes.
ABS FC Coach Henry Makinwa, made three changes to the squad that started against Abia Warriors on Sunday in Umuahia with Stone Evbuomwan, Adeshina Gata and Ibrahim Ahmed in the starting eleven.
ABS was the first side to make a statement as the game kick off when Ibrahim Ahmed fired a shot at United’s goal but his effort went inches wide with seconds on the clock.
Christian Weli slide home the first goal of the game for United in the 37th minute and was substituted one minute later due to a head injury he sustained early in the game.
Four minutes before United’s opener, Adeshina Gata had rounded off United defenders after a beautiful pass by Eugene Ossy but the former Kwara United’s player effort hit the woodwork.
The Saraki Boys came into the second half like a side which might level up with Gata and Wasiu Alalade the most culprits as they wasted too many chances.
Abiodun Akande was called to action in the 61st minute when Eugene Ossy header from an Ibrahim Ahmed’s cross almost find the back of the net but the United’s goalkeeper took few steps backward quickly to turn it away for a corner kick.
Alalade made way for Chigozirim Metu in the 55th minute and the pacy winger brought live to the Saraki Boys flank.
Metu’s eventful run in the 70th minute couldn’t produce a chance for an equaliser as cross into the United’s box failed to reach an incoming Gata.
12 minutes later, Substitute Godless Asamoah put the game beyond the visitors when he tapped home Ifeanyi Nweke’s square pass after an eventful run by the full back.
The wins took United to 17th on the log on goals difference as they have same number of points as Wikki Tourists and Sunshine Stars while the Saraki Boys kept their 13th position on the log.
The Saraki Boys are yet to pick a win in last 6 attempts and they will be taking the match day 18 tie with Nasarawa United on Sunday in Ilorin with all seriousness.