An inspired Mabel Effiom performance handed Rivers Angels a 4-0 win against new comers, Capital City Doves of Abuja in a Nigeria Women Premier League Week 1 rescheduled game at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
Rivers Angels dominated the midfield and attacked early in the game with the inspired Effiom troubling the visitors with her darting runs and crosses from the left flank.
The former Ibom Angels full back, was playing in place of Ngozi Ebere who is on duty with the national team and made sure Ebere’s absence was not felt in the game.
The Port Harcourt based side opened scores on 19 minutes when newly-signed striker from Finland, Ijeoma Obi rammed home a fantastic bicycle kick which left Oluwaseun Sanusi who was in goal for Doves with no chance at all.
Two minutes later, the double champions increased the tally and this time around it was last season NWPL highest goal scorer, Amarachi Ojinma opening her account for the season.
The former Pelican stars forward got a just reward for her efforts after her shot was previously blocked by Sanusi taking advantage of a defensive error by the Abuja side to poke home.
Two soon became three in the 32nd minute as the hosts compounded their visitors’ woes. A perfectly weighed cross from Mercy Amanze found centre back Ihuoma Onyebuchi who teed up Ijeoma Obi to bury it past Sanusi.
Capital City Doves, lacking a cutting edge, outmuscled in the midfield and could not find their way through the Rivers Angels defense on countless occasions.
With ten minutes into the second half, the referee disallowed a goal scored by Grace Henry who pounced on a spilled ball from Sanusi. She was adjudged to be in an offside position.
The home side however continued the game without any protest but so much attention was on the coach of Capital City Doves, Ngozi Ezeh who on three different intervals called on her players to the sidelines after they conceded a goal from Rivers Angels side.
In the 75th minute however, Rivers Angels got icing on their well baked cake with a free kick from 25 yards from Ulunma Jerome who connected the newly introduced Ijeoma Emenike. Emenike did brilliantly to find a relentless Mercy Amanze who headed the ball into the net.
It wrapped up an efficient yet comfortable display for the Champions who were yet to kick a ball this term after they walked over Pelicans Stars in Calabar last weekend.
Assistant coach of Rivers Angels, Whyte Ogbonda expressed his delight after the match but admitted they were missing their key players who are on national duty.
“We are missing the players in the national camp if they were here we would have scored up to 10 goals. The standard of the game would have been higher than this but am happy because what we were looking for is just 3 points and at the end of the day they were able to get 3points and 4 goals so am happy they played to instruction and there is room for improvement, said Ogbonda.
Coach of Capital City Dove, Ngozi Ezeh admitted she was not disappointed with the result.
The girls tried their best. We just got into the league and we were not supposed to be in the league but I still believe these girls will still do wonders. I am not disappointed for what my girls played its not easy to face the champions, remember they are the champions of the league, Ezeh said.
“I have to inject new players and encourage the little ones that can meet up the league when next they come for the return leg in Abuja you will hear a different result, Ezeh concluded.
Highest goal scorer of NWPL 2013/2014 season, Amarachi Ojinma who was at Pelican Stars last season, believes she can replicate her scoring form for the Women League champions.
“By the special grace of God I believe I can do it. According to the league board, it is not a straight league but an abridged one. If I can’t get up to what I got(17) with Pelican Stars last season , I hope to get half of the goals I got last season, she said.
Rivers Angels next play Nasarawa Amazons On Saturday, May 16 at the Liberation Stadium Port Harcourt.
newfanzone 