Remo Stars pip Rivers Utd 2-1, close gap on Rangers

Remo Stars have recorded their first-ever win over Rivers United as they came from behind to defeat the Port-Harcourt-based club 2-1 in a rescheduled matchday 21 of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season yesterday.

Prior to the game, Remo Stars had played eight games, losing six and drawing two and have now moved to the second position on the log with 56 points and one point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.

The visitors took the lead on the 19th minute via a spot-kick converted by Andy Okpe who is the first-ever player to convert a penalty at Remo Stars in the NPFL as the first half ended 1-0.

Remo who were trail for the first time at home at half time this season.

To avoid extending the record of losing a NPFL home match when they trailed by halftime,the home side rallied and scored two goals in the second half to pick the three maximum points.

Remo Stars’ resurgence began with Hadi Haruna scoring the equalizer on the 68th minute, before Franck Mawuena netted on the dot of 83rd minute as the fans went ecstatic.

The ‘Sky Blue Stars’ now hold a 100 per cent record at home in 2024 in NPFL, conceding just thrice against Abia Warriors, Akwa Utd and now Rivers United.

Meanwhile, the defeat, two in a row, has left Rivers United’s continental aspiration in tatters as they are currently 13th on the log with 40 points from 28 matches. They lost their previous encounter against Bayelsa United with similar scoreline. The Port Harcourt-based side, though, have four outstanding games to play.

It could be recalled that the league had gone on another hiatus till May 25th to enable Rivers United play their outstanding matches which they accumulated while playing in the CAF Confederation Cup.

They were eliminated at the second-tier continental league 2-1 by USM Algiers at the quarter-final stage. The league will return with matchday 33 encounters across the country.