NPFL Matchday 35: Niger Tornadoes Record Biggest Win, Thrash Kwara United 4-0 In Kaduna
By Alhassan Kutigi
Niger Tornadoes on Saturday kept hope of their league retaining their status after they recorded their biggest win in the 2022 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL season following a 4-0 spanking of visiting Kwara United in Kaduna.
With Rivers United already league winners after Plateau United’s 2-1 loss against former champions, Akwa United, the NPFL survival battle enters crucial stage with Niger Tornadoes picking vital 3 points and a big step towards achieving safety with a resounding victory over North Central rivals Kwara United FC.
The victory banished the memories of a one nil mid week defeat in Jos against fellow relegation strugglers, Lobi Stars FC.
The Ikon Allah Boys playing at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna, the adopted venue, in a match day 35 encounter, put the right steps forward from the blast of the whistle, knowing what is at stake.
The hosts went ahead just two minutes on the clock when Issa Gata’s own goal put the Ikon Allah Boys in front, as he turns home from Lukman Mohammed’s well taken corner kick.
The second goal arrived not quite long after the first, Adeyinka Najeem launched an attack and his long ball found Musa Wakili who made a deft pass to speeding Jonas Emmanuel who guided the ball forward before releasing a low grounder that caught Dele Aiyenugba napping on the 17th minute.
In a half that the visitors barely threatened, the hosts found their rhythm and were on rampage all through. On the 39th minute, Jonas Emmanuel chested down the ball in the opposition’s end and locates Munir Idris who in turn laid a good pass to Musa Wakili, but the latter shot the ball wide and the half was brought to a halt with the hosts on two goals cushion.
Second half resumed with the hosts making the first change as Lukman Mohammed made way for Chinedu Ufere, six minutes into the restart, Shamsudeen Hashim made a clever run into space before connecting to Jimmy Abdul’s fine cross to head the ball home for the third goal on the 51st minute.
Three minutes later, Jonas Emmanuel dribbled passed a United defender and sent the ball direction of Shamsudeen Hashim who was well positioned in the box, he controlled the ball, turned and played a low shot that beat Aiyenugba in goal for the fourth goal of the game to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors in what was a total annihilating of the visitors and Niger Tornadoes biggest victory since a 4-0 win over the defunct Dolphins FC of Port Hacourt in August 2012.
The Afonja Warriors found their rhythm in the dying moment of the game with beautiful exchange of passes after the damage had already been done.