Kwara United, Jigawa Stars, MFM FC, Nasarawa United, and Ifeanyi Ubah all picked wins on the opening day of the Nigeria Premier Football League, and Katsina United joined them with a thrilling victory on Monday
A Boubacar Masally double and a late Samuel Kalu strike helped Katsina United come from behind twice to secure an impressive 3-2 victory over Ikechukwu Ezenwa’s Heartland FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.
Despite a delayed kickoff at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, the visitors were the first to get going. They took the lead with their first shot on target, Bright Onyedikachi netting an absolute gem of a strike in the second minute.
The hosts were stung by that opener and poured forward in numbers in search of the equalizer.
They came close in the 18th minute when Abdulrashid Ahmed’s effort seemed destined for the net, but Heartland’s goalscorer Onyedikachi got in a vital block to deflect it to safety.
Katsina Utd, though, could have fallen further behind midway through the half, but Habibu Yakubu made a goalline clearance to keep his team in the contest.
It was the turn of Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa to keep his side’s noses in front when he saved a stinging shot from Katsina’s Ubakanma ten minutes before the break.
The Changi Boys finally found the breakthrough in the closing stages of the first half when Boubacar Masally beat Ezenwa to drag the home side level.
Katsina United came out of the break the better side, probing and hunting for the winning goal with the visitors just happy to stay in the game, epitomised by Chidera Ezeh going into the referee’s book for time-wasting as early as the 66th minute.
However, with ten minutes left and against the run of play, The Naze Millionaires regained the lead thanks to Samuel Nnoshiri’s fine effort.
But Boubacar Masally completed his brace two minutes from time, collecting a pass from Usman Barau and sending his strike beyond the reach of Ezenwa to get Katsina United back in the game.
And deep into stoppage time, the hosts completed an improbable comeback when substitute Samuel Kalu smashed home the winning goal right at the death.
In the other game played on Monday afternoon, Akwa United and Dakadda settled for a goalless draw in the season’s first orange derby at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
