With two more games to go in the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Kwara United FC of Ilorin defeated Kano Pillars 1-0 on Wednesday to keep hope of playing continental football next season alive.
The match Day 36 encounter was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
It was a one-sided game as Kwara United dominated proceedings for most larger part of the match.
Kwara United scored in the fourth minute via Junior Ayobami who beat the offside trap in process to lob the ball over incoming Kano Pillars’ goalkeeper, Joshua Enaholo, but his goal was ruled for offside.
Michael Ohanu’s goal, however, stood firmly in the 21st minute when he beat the offside trap and scored the only goal of the match.
He then forced Enaholo to a fine save six minutes later after a fantastic Kwara United’s team play.
In one of the fewest opportunities that came the way of Kano Pillars, Auwalu Malam ballooned an effort from a long range after being denied an entrance into the Kwara United’s goal area in the 36th minute.
Ohanu freed an unmarked Stephen Jude in the 49th minute to double the hosts’ lead but he instead glided the chance with Kano Pillars’ goalkeeper to beat.
Kano Pillars’ biggest chance of the match came in the 57th minute when Henry Gerome headed wide from a corner kick.
Rabiu Ali was presented with an opportunity to even the scores for Kano Pillars’ after the away team won possession in dangerous place, but he glided the effort in the 62nd minute.
Two minutes later, Stephen Jude forced Pillars’ goalkeeper, Enaholo, to another huge save.
Coach Yaro Yaro of Kano Pillars told journalists after the game that his team conceded the only goal of the match to a mistake, which he said sometimes is unavoidable in football.
He said the team has not given up of making an appearance on the continent next season as he explained that a lot of surprises can still happened in the remaining two matches.
His Kwara United’s counterpart, Abdullahi Biffo, said there is still a lot to play for in the remaining two matches and expressed relief over Wednesday’s victory over Kano Pillars.
Biffo maintained that his team would work hard ahead of their trip to Adamawa United in an attempt to get something out of the match.
