NPFL: ​Katsina United record second away point at Abia Warriors

Katsina United forced host Abia Warriors to a 1 – 1 draw in one of NPFL match day 17  decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday
Katsina United now occupy fourth position on the league table with 24 points from 17 games, while Abia Warriors have dropped to 10th on the table with 22 points from 17 games 

It was a game full of energy as both teams came out to showcase themselves.

It was the hosts who had the first clear-cut chance as Obi Samson was set free by  Ndifreke Effiong, but the young striker could not hold his own as his long-range strike went miles away from goal just five minutes into the first half

Tasiu Lawal of Katsina also missed a golden opportunity to fire his team in front as his close-range strike missed the target after he was freed by Joshua Agboola on the right flank. 

Obi Promise would later give his team the lead as his strike from distance found the back of the net on 16th minutes to throw the fans in the stadium into wide jubilation

Dami Paul then did brilliantly well to make a great save as he denied Ndifreke Effiong from doubling the advantage of the hosts five minutes after the first goal.

Odeyemi Ebenezer came close on 33 minutes with a long range drive which went inches away from goal

However, Katsina United stepped up their game and got the equaliser from the penalty spot just five minutes to the end of the first half after Chinedu handled a dangerous cross into the box by Destiny Ashadi and the referee was in a better position to award a penalty. 

Confident Agboola stepped forward calmly to dispatch the spot kick and restore parity as the first half ended 1 – 1

The hosts could have taken the lead on 15 minutes into the second half, but Dami Paul was on hand to parry a brilliant close-range effort by Obi Samson to keep his team in the game.

Muhammed found the back 0f the net on 65 off another dangerous cross into the area by Destiny Ashadi but it would not stand as the referee claimed the ball did not cross the goal line. 

Ndifreke Effiong also came close with a powerful drive which crashed against the cross-bar on 88 minutes

The hosts pocked severally, but could not carve a hole in the strong defence of Katsina United as the game ended 1 – 1 

Muhammed Hussain was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance in the defence of the visitors.