17th July, 2017
Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC captain and goalkeeper, Abdullahi Boje match winning saves were enough for his team to escape a defeat in the hands of Rivers United.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin on Sunday.
It was the homers that first showed an impactful statement when Martin Ossy with seconds into the game almost score but his shot went wide.
The Saraki Boys were mostly wasteful in front of goal for most proceedings of the match with Mohammed Mohammad the highest number of wasted efforts.
Boje made the first of his outstanding saves in the 42nd minute when Bolaji Sakin’s effort stretched the ABS’s goalkeeper to the limit to parry to corner.
The ABS goalkeeper again denied Rivers United’s Bernard Ovoke a one on one chance in the 70th minute, the goalkeeper’s finger tip safe was all he needed to keep his side in the game.
Former Kwara United striker, Sakin and former Bayelsa United attacker, Bernard Ovoke, are the most dangerous Rivers United’s players on the day.
READ: Qatar World Cup boycott is ‘fake news’
Abiodun Akande made a last minute gasp to deny the Saraki Boys from breaking the deadlock in the 90th minute to earn his side a point in Ilorin.
Speaking after the game, the assistant coach of the team, Moshood Adebayo, said he is confident that his team will beat the drop.
“We are disappointed about this result but we are still much in it.
“It is still a battle that is not lost yet and we will continue to fight till the end” Adebayo said.
The Saraki Boys will now take a trip to Bauchi to lock horns with Wikki Tourists on match day 30.