Katsina United’s head coach Abullahi Biffo says the poor conversion rate of his strikers is to be faulted for their slim 1-0 win over Heartland FC in their Matchday 13 game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.
A well-taken penalty in the third minute of play converted by Lukman Muhammed gave Katsina United all three points, but Biffo believes it could have been more if his players had taken their chances in the game.
Katsina United failed to score despite creating numerous chances especially after Heartland were reduced to ten men following the sending off of Abiodun Thompson for two bookable offences in the second half.
“My boys were not on top of their game in terms of goalscoring. We had chances to kill this game off right from the first half but we didn’t make use of them. Normally we convert such chances. It’s just one of those days,” Biffo said.
Heartland was unfortunate to concede an early penalty when Odeh Uche handled a cross from Tasiu Lawal in his bid to clear the danger with Eric Dufegha waiting to pounce for Katsina United in the box.
Although goalkeeper, Opubo Japhet guessed the right way, the power in the strike from Lukman Muhammed took the ball away from him. Heartland almost responded immediately but Fuad Ekelojuoti failed to utilise a one-on-one chance against goalkeeper Dami Paul.
Ekelojuoti hit his effort straight at the goalkeeper after a through-ball from Thompson sliced open the defence of the home side, leaving him through on goal with the goalkeeper at his mercy in the final action of the first half.
Heartland started the second half with intent to draw level but their course was made worse when Thompson got himself sent off for dissent, after vehemently protesting a call that went against him five minutes after the restart.
The striker was ruled to have handled the ball by the referee while trying to cushion a pass on his chest, he protested the call claiming he was pushed from behind by the defender marking him. His protest earned him another booking after his first caution in the first half.
His dismissal killed the momentum which Heartland started in the half, and Katsina United seized the initiative to pile more pressure in search of a second goal, but Opubo was up to whatever was thrown at his goal.
Opubo and the defence line of ýHeartland were brave when they had to, as they were not scared of putting their body on the line to frustrate the home side from extending their lead.
Heartland head coach Ramson Madu praised his players for raising their game beyond the level they performed in their last away game against MFM FC, despite playing with ten men for majority of the second half.
“Many people will understand ýwhen you lose a game due to an early penalty and a red card in the early minutes of the second half. My players raised their game, and their performance is better than our last away game against MFM FC,” coach Madu said.
“We played with ten players for a very long time and we didn’t concede another goal. The positives from this game are many, and we will work on the grey areas we noticed during the game.”