Rivers United Coach, Finidi George has revealed the tactics that broke Heartland FC down in the second half of their match in the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 2 game played at the Adokie Amasiemaka, Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday Rivers State, Sports 247 reports.
In the clash of two former Super Eagles Players in the dugout, Coach Finidi George of Rivers United got the better of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke who is the manager of Heartland.
A spirited team second-half performance from Rivers United saw Heartland concede two second-half goals which sunk Heartland FC to a 3-1 at full time after both teams had played a 1-1 draw during the break.
In the post-match conference, Coach Finidi George revealed the tactics behind the second-half fall of Heartland.
The soft-spoken coach attributed Rivers United’s second-half supremacy to the ability of his players to up the tempo by being more aggressive, matching the physicalities of their opponent, and going ahead to seize control of the game.
“It was a good game. We started with a high tempo; after that goal, the tempo dropped, we had to go into the second half to try and ginger the boys so they could come into the second half and put up that fight, be more aggressive in enforcing our game plan, matching the physicality of the opponent”.
“I think the second half was just for us, apart from one or two bits they had. I think we controlled the game and created a lot of chances to score more goals. But overall, we deserved to win today, ” said Finidi after the match.
When quizzed on the rivalry between the two coaches, Finidi says there was no rivalry or acrimony between them as Emmanuel Amuneke remains his good friend beyond the game.
“There is no rivalry at all Emmanuel Amuneke is my friend. it’s good to see him coach a team in that NPFL, that some of us can come back and help the league this way.”
“Beyond the match, our friendship continues, there is no big deal’ Finidi affirmed.
Rivers United opened scoring early in the first half through Taofeek Otaniyi’s header but the lead was cut off by Heartlands FC’ C. Molokwu bringing the scoreline to 1-1 on the stroke of halftime.
Rivers United later took over the dominance of the game in the second half as Kabir Abdullahi stole the show with a brace to give Rivers United the maximum three points on the day.
Rivers United now has four points in the two-week-old campaign, while Heartland’s open-day struggles in the league were compounded with another 3 -1 loss, which leaves them at the bottom on the log with zero points.
