NIGER TORNADOES IMPRESSIVE SHOW HUMBLES KATSINA UNITED
February, 6 2022.
Niger Tornadoes delivered an inspired display to defeat Katsina United at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja in their match day 11 clash by 2-1.
Both sides started the game showing their attack intents. In the 8th minute, Kastina United's Matthew Emmanuel and Musa Salisu struck on a counter with the latter charging down before being let down by his heavy touch. Musa Salisu's freekick had initially forced a save from Niger Tornadoes' goalie, Michael George.
On a second time of asking, Niger Tornadoes broke the deadlock on the 16th minute through their playmaker, Ahmadu Liman. The diminutive midfielder glided past two marker after receiving the ball from Martins Usule at the edge of the box. He set himself up against Katsina's goaltender, Abubakar Adamu and comfortably slotted the ball into the net, to give the home side the lead.
With Katsina United pushing to equalize early enough, Niger Tornadoes doubled their lead seven minutes later through Shamsudeen Hashim on the 22nd minute. A corner kick was swung in from Jacob John and the pin-point delivery found Hashim who planted a good header past Abubakar Adamu.
Katsina United coach, Mohammed Azeez reacted go his side's sloppiness by effecting a 30th minute change. Aliyu Abdulrazak was subbed off with Boubacar Djibo taking his place. Both sides remained unrelenting in taking the game to the other.
In the 42nd minute, Katsina United got a goal of their own through Faisal Sani. The left back drove down the channel, ghosting past two markers before slotting the ball under the arm of Tornadoes' goalkeeper, George Michael to half the deficit for his team before before the first half ended.
At the resumption of the second period, Niger Tornadoes' coach Bala Abubakar sent in Nurudeen Jimoh in place of Shamsudeen Hashim to bolster his team's attack. Five minutes later, Katsina United also made a change, with Madaki Alkali going off for Nweke Ebuka.
In the 52nd minute, Ebuka and Musa Wakili combined well in the Tornadoes box but the latter saw his shot saved by goalie Abubakar Adamu.
As intensity grew, Katsina's Nafiu Ibrahim got a yellow card (57th minute) for a cynical foul while Tornadoes sent in Peter Momoh and Adamu Yahaya in place of injured Munir Idris and Jacob John in the 60th minute. New entrant, Nurudeen Jimoh got a yellow card also in the 69th minute.
In the 72nd minute, Katsina went in search of an equalizer after Chibundu went past defence trojan Sunday Akinmoladun, he found Nweke Ebuka but on-rushing goalkeeper George Michael cleared the ball. In the 75th minute, Oche Josiah came in for Martins Usule in a Niger Tornadoes change.
The last 10 minute of the game, both sides kept going at each of other jugglar. Tornadoes had an opportunity to bury the game as the efficient Liman found Jimoh but the latter's first touch lets him down.
The fourth official signalled for additional three minutes of added time but both sides couldn't breach each other's defence, as Tornadoes settled for three points.