Warri Wolves Football Club on Sunday suffered a 1-0 defeat to visiting Rivers United FC at the Warri Township Stadium, in a 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.
Ovoke Bernard scored the lone goal for the visitors in the 52nd minute of the keenly-contested week 15 game.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Warri Wolves dominated the game in the first half and created a lot of goal scoring chances which went unconverted.
While soaking the pressure, the visitors relied on counter-attacks which were also thwarted by Warri Wolves’ goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye.
At the resumption of the second, Rivers United changed their pattern of play to pile pressure and torment the Warri Wolves defence.
Bernard, during one of their raids, scored the lone goal when he utilised a pass.
Speaking during the post-match interview, Rivers United’s coach Stanley Eguma commended his players for the victory.
“It was a good game. Warri Wolves did not do badly. But I think we had a better plan and it paid for us.
“Right from the beginning of the season, we set our eyes on the trophy and we never lost our focus, and we have been working hard.
“Beating Warri Wolves at home was not easy, and I think it is not yet time to celebrate.
“We still have more games to play and we will keep working hard to ensure we get to the top. That is our ultimate ambition,” he said.
The coach of Warri Wolves, Tosan Blankson, on his part attributed the defeat to bad officiating.
“I am not angry because my boys played badly, but I am angry because the officiating was bad.
“If referees officiate away matches like this, I think we would have won at least four of our away matches.
“There were unnecessary advantages to the opponent. Even when there is infringement against Warri Wolves, the referee will award it to the opponent,” he said.
Also speaking, the lone goal scorer attributed the victory to team work.
“I feel great scoring goals, but my best is yet to come for the club,” Bernard said.(NAN)