Rivers United secured a narrow 1-0 win over Nasarawa United on Matchday 11 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, thanks to a late strike from their winger Timothy Zachariah.

The victory marked the team’s fourth win of the season after nine games, alongside one defeat and four draws, Footballrover reports.

Rivers United Show Controlled Performance Despite Narrow Margin

Despite the result, the Pride of Rivers remain in 8th place with 16 points, but they have two games in hand as they look to climb the table.

Coach Finidi described the match as an “outstanding performance”, praising his players’ energy and focus.

“For me, when my players don’t do well, I say it. But I think today we controlled the game and created a lot of chances. But we could only get one (goal). Now, it looks as if we’re away from home; that’s where we’ll be scoring our goals. But I have to give the players credit for bouncing back.

“It’s not an easy one. We knew we lost against Bayelsa United here, but for them to come out after the draw against Ikorodu City, I think it’s massive. So, kudos to my players. For us, I think it’s a new beginning. It’s a new beginning for us. We hope we keep this run as long as we can keep it.”

Rivers United’s controlled approach saw them dominate possession and create multiple opportunities, but it was Timothy who broke the deadlock, replicating his continental form against Black Bulls.

Timothy’s Late Strike Seals Victory and Highlights Team Resilience

Discussing Timothy’s performance, Coach Finidi said,

“We’re quite happy with Timothy’s form. We’ll keep encouraging him to do his best to help the team. That goes for every player that we have. Despite the draw against Ikorodu, as a coach, you always want to encourage the players to do more. I saw a different energy today.

“For me, you can play a draw or you can lose a game, but you have to come with that energy. That’s the energy I saw today. If we had played a draw today, I would have congratulated the players. But at the end of the day, we won it. So, double congratulations to the players. The striker has not played. I think this is his first or second game. It’s quite difficult for a player to come in. A lot might be going on in his head.

“Now that the coach has given me this opportunity, I don’t want to blow it. That was what happened. The nerves were ahead of him. I won’t miss that chance. I’ll continue to encourage him to do more. It’s quite difficult for a player to come in and perform. But that goal can happen. Even in the EPL, we always see people missing chances. But he has to bounce back. We’ll continue to encourage him in subsequent games.“

That victory not only denied the Solid Miners their hold on the top of the NPFL table but also gave the Port Harcourt outfit a huge boost of momentum as they prepare for two crucial away fixtures—first against Bendel Insurance in a south-south derby, followed by a trip to face the new side Kun Khalifat.

The victory reflects a potential turning point for Finidi and his boys this season. With two games in hand, they have a chance to close the gap on the top half of the table.

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Last Updated on November 4, 2025 9:43 am by footballrover