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Ochendo Babes missed the chance to beat the NPFL champions for the first time in five years.
Darlington Ovunda was the hero of the day as Abia Warriors and Rivers United played out a barren draw in the NPFL.
The United goalkeeper, Ovunda, made no fewer than seven saves including denying the Warriors a second-half penalty as the defending champions left with a point following a 0-0 draw.
In what was a rescheduled matchday nine (9) encounter in the NPFL, both teams settled for a share of the spoils again in Umuahia.
The NPFL match in brief
Both Abia Warriors and Rivers United went into the game looking to close the gap between them and the pacesetters in Group B of the abridged NPFL season.
Rivers United started on the front foot and created the first real chance of the game when Onoja Joseph almost broke the deadlock in the opening 46 seconds.
However, the home side bounced back with two quick chances of their own which brought out saves from Ovunda in a blistering opening five minutes to the NPFL tie.
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Ovunda was the busiest of the two goalkeepers on the pitch with Rivers United saving his side’s blushes again with more saves as the Warriors piled on the pressure.
The talented goalkeeper came up with another big save just before the break to keep the NPFL champions in the game as there was nothing to separate both sides at the break.
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It was more of the same in the second half from the Warriors whose pressure finally paid off when the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty.
Again, it was Ovunda who came up with his biggest save of the game to deny Lukman Bello of Abia Warriors from 12 yards out.
Nothing was exciting thereafter from both sides as they held out for a share of the spoils in the NPFL battle.
It is the second consecutive draw between the two sides in the NPFL in Umuahia after the last meeting ended 1-1.
What the result means
While both teams wanted a win, Rivers United were the biggest winners as they moved up to second on the NPFL Group B table.
United, who still have a game in hand, have 15 points, four behind leaders Lobi Stars while their hosts on the day, Warriors, sit fourth with 14 points.
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