By Emma Njoku
Defending champions, Rivers United of Port Harcourt, yesterday, ended the unbeaten run of Bendel Insurance of Benin in the current football season with an emphatic 2-0 score at the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), held at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos.
Insurance went into yesterday’s match with 20 games of unbeaten bragging rights.
A beautiful volley by No. 9 shirt, M. Chukwu, in the third minute of added time, gave Rivers United a 1-0 lead over Bendel Insurance at half-time.
Both teams, who were looking for their first victory at the play-offs had maintained a balanced affair all through the first half with the two goalkeepers pulling a couple of fantastic saves.
Upon resumption of the second half, Insurance stepped up their attack looking for the equalizer, but Rivers United’s defense stoutly denied them goals.
Coach Monday Odigie made four quick substitutions which saw the Benin side pile up more pressure on Rivers United but the defending champions showed high-level discipline at the back to contain the pressure.
With minutes ticking out, substitute J. Onoja in No. 20 jersey increased the tally of Rivers United with a fiery shot on the dot of the 90th minute that left Insurance keeper stranded.
The Benin side, however, fought back gamely and their effort paid off with a stoppage-time goal by substitute D. Nwachukwu to put the scores at 2-1 at full time.
The result took Rivers United to the top on the log with eight points from three games, pending the outcome of the third match of the day between Enyimba International of Aba and Sunshine Stars of Akure. Insurance have three points have two points, having drawn their first two games.