Doma United suffers its first defeat in the ongoing NPFL 20232/2023 season after a 1-0 lost away to Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna in a pulsating encounter between the two sides on Thursday evening.
Doma United were coming into the game at the back of a 1-1 home draw against Sunshine Stars in match day one at the Pantami Stadium while Niger Tornedoes were fired up following their heroic outing in Bauchi last week.
The game started with Charles Chibuke released by Hillary’s through pass but Tornadoes defenders were quick to respond to thwart the attack. Tornadoes enjoyed most of the ball possession in the first 6 minutes of the game and were rewarded with a goal in the 8th minute.
Doma United’s Khalid Ibrahim was dispossessed along the center line in what seems to be a foul (the referee waved play on) and the ball found an unmarked Munir Idris whose left footed volley beat Kingdom by the left side to put the host ahead.
Tornadoes took control of the game and created more chances but they couldn’t convert any. They could have extended their lead after Kingdom’s kick found and unmarked David Okoromi whose closed shot went wide for a goal kick.
Clement Junior tried a long range strike but went off the post for United’s first attempt in the first 30th minutes of the game and picked up the first booking for a foul midway through the first half.
Returning for the second half, the gaffer made a substitution as Innocent John was replaced by Samuel Andrew.
Doma United settled well in the second half and created the best chances with Charles Chibuke’s individual effort went out for a goal kick.
After the game, our TA Akinade Onigbinde rues some of the missed opportunities but praised the players for fighting until the end “we created a lot of opportunities as you can see but we couldn’t convert them and that cost us the game. Assuming we took one of those chances, we would have picked something but generally, we played very well and I commend our boys, they fought hard. I am not happy we lost but that’s football”.
On picking only one point in possible six, coach Onigbinde said “yes we are worried and we’re disturbed, we will go back home now, put ourselves together. We’ll win our home matches and then go away and pick a win or a draw”
Asked where Doma United will finish at the end of the season, the gaffer responded “We are coming up, and we’ll finish strong at the end. The season is just starting, we need to win at home and get some points away from home.”
The Savannah Tigers are placed 7th on the group B table of the abridge league after two games with one point.
Doma United will play host to Dakkada FC of Akwa Ibom in Match Day of the NPFL at the Pantami Stadium on Sunday 22 January 2023.