Katsina United submitted to an early goal by Victor Mbaoma and Solomon John’d 77th minute strike to give Remo Stars their first win of the season in one of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 5 fixtures decided at the Osogbo Township Stadium, Osogbo, Osun Sate.
A game that promised to be entertaining was marred and disrupted by a very poor nature and condition of the Osogbo Township Stadium thereby forcing both teams to play negative football.
It was the home side that drew the first blood after scoring from the very first shot on target of the game just two minutes into the boring game. Victor Mbaoma hammered home a rebound after Ezenwa had saved a brilliant close range strike from Kingsley Akumini to give Remo Stars the lead.
‘The Changi Boys’ could have gotten the equalizer on 15th minutes but Fabiyi does brilliantly to deny Lukman Muhammed from leveling up with a close range drive.
Solomon John of Remo who was lively throughout the game set Mbaoma free with a one-two pass but the later clever volley strike was saved once again by the brilliant Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa to deny the hosts from going two goals up on 38 minutes.
Katsina United had another brilliant chance five minutes before half-time stoppage, from a free-kick just on the edge of the box of the opponents after Joshua was bundled down but Eric Dufegha’s strike could not hit the target.
‘The Change Boys’ intensified the pressure towards the end of first half in search of equalizer but could not get the break through as the resolute defense of Remo Stars repelled all the attacking threat threw at them and the visitors went to the break with a goal deficit.
Just five minutes into the resumption of second half, Victor Mbaoma could have doubled the lead for Remo Stars with a fantastic long range drive, thanks to another world class save from Ezenwa to deny him.
Katsina United enjoyed more of the possession at the early minutes of the second half with Lukman Muhammed, Usman Barau and Yushau Garba dictating the pace of the game from the middle of the park.
A lively Solomon John was hacked down on the left flank before he combined well with Awoyemi Abiodun who whipped in a curling cross from the resultant free-kick into Katsina United box to tap into the back of the net with ease and doubled the advantage of the hosts
‘The Changi Boys’ chased, knocked and poked but could not get a goal as the home team ran away with their first win of the season.
Remo Stars’ captain Victor Mbaoma was adjudged man of the match for playing a vital role in his team’s first win of the season.
