Rivers United halt Barau FC’s 7-match unbeaten run to go top

New boys, Barau FC’s seven-match unbeaten run ended after they fell 0-1 to Rivers United in the rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 25 match played yesterday in Port Harcourt. After a barren first half in the keenly contested match, former Katsina United defender, Stephen Manyo, broke the deadlock in the 85th minute to […]

New boys, Barau FC’s seven-match unbeaten run ended after they fell 0-1 to Rivers United in the rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 25 match played yesterday in Port Harcourt.

After a barren first half in the keenly contested match, former Katsina United defender, Stephen Manyo, broke the deadlock in the 85th minute to hand Rivers United the maximum points.

It will be recalled that Barau FC thrashed Rivers United 4-1 in the first leg, for their biggest win so far in the NPFL.

However, yesterday’s victory lifted Rivers United to the summit of the table with 46 points, effectively dislodging Ikorodu United who temporarily occupied the coveted position with 45 points from 27 matches.

In addition, the win over Barau FC was the second for Rivers United who began their “points mop up” with an all important 1-1 draw against Kwara United in the rescheduled week 22 match in Ilorin.

Following their exit from this year’s CAF Champions League where they failed to win a single match, the league organisers immediately rescheduled Rivers United’s five outstanding matches.

Having earned four points from two of the accumulated fixtures, Rivers United will be aiming to scoop more points in their remaining three matches against El-Kanemi Warriors on March 4 in Port Harcourt; 3SC on March 12 in Ibadan, and Niger Tornadoes March 19 at Lafia.

 

Barau FC’s unbeaten run in seven matches

Following the departure of their former Head Coach, Ladan Bosso, in January, Barau FC had been on a strong run, remaining unbeaten in their last seven matches.

With the unbeaten run under new Head Coach Eugene Agagbe, Barau have managed to climb to 13th in the standings as a result of their defensive stability.

Interestingly, before yesterday’s mishap, Barau FC was the only unbeaten team since January.

They produced three wins, four draws and no defeat in seven matches.

Barau FC edged Niger Tornadoes 2-1 at home; forced Enyimba to a 0-0 draw in Aba and were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayelsa United at home.

The Maliya Boys also recorded a stunning 0-0 draw at Bendel Insurance, and produced double-home victories against Ikorodu City and Kun Khalifat before last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Warri Wolves, thereby easing their relegation worries.