Reigning champions Rivers United took a step closer to defending their Nigeria Professional Football League title on match-day four of the 2022/23 Super 6 playoffs after beating Bendel Insurance 2-1 in the first game on Saturday, Saturday PUNCH reports.
The result condemned Bendel Insurance to their first league defeat this season after a run of 21 games (eight wins and 13 draws).
After a cagey opening to the affair, Morice Chukwu smashed home the opener for Rivers United on the stroke of halftime as the game headed into the break 1-0.
Insurance resumed the second half with firepower but they couldn’t find a breakthrough as goalkeeper Victor Sochima and his defense line kept them at bay.
Second-half substitute, Joseph Onoja doubled Rivers United’s advantage in stoppage time before new Super Eagles invitee, Divine Nwachukwu pulled one back for Insurance – his third goal of the playoffs.
Rivers United have now moved up to eight points on the Super 6 table with a place on the continent also in sight.
