Defender, Deji Bamidele found the back of the net after hitting a thunderous shot in Kwara United 2-1 win over Heartland on Sunday in Ilorin. He has counted the goal as the first of five he hopes to contribute to his club’s campaign this season.
Www.npfl.ng reports that the hosts were made to labour hard to pick the three points in a game of each half, played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
“As a defender, I have a target to score five goals this season. But, I will keep working hard to continue to help the team”, an elated Deji told Journalists after the match.
“Decision making is not an easy task, but whenever it comes, you have to take, hence the reason I shot from that long range.
“Before I received the ball, I was already begging my mate to give me the ball and as soon as I collected it, the aim was to shoot which I did and I thank God I got the goal” Deji further stated.
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Kwara United defenders were made to defend desperately in the last 30th minutes of the first half to deny the visitors when Heartland attackers imposed themselves on the hosts.
Alao Danbani would have scored two minutes later but he played straight into the hands of Femi Thomas instead of finding an unmarked teammate leaving his technical crew and fans in anguish.
The introduction of the duo of Samad Kadiri and Junior Ayobami in the 48th minute improved Kwara United’s attack and they helped pin Heartland players to their goal area.
It was Kadiri who had a quick impact on the game when his effort forced Femi Thomas to a great save in the 53rd minute of play.
Bamidele scored the first goal of the game in the 57th minute with a thunderous strike from what looks like a 30 yard out.
Kadiri again imposed himself on Heartland players, won possession in a promising area and shot at goal from 25 yard but his effort hit the bar in the 67th minute.
Alao Danbani scored his 7th goal of the season in a fantastic fashion when he beat his markers, before rounding Thomas to play into an empty net for Kwara United’s 2nd goal.
The visitors reduced the scoreline in the 80th minute when Chukwudi Nwaodu scored a beautiful team goal with 10 minutes left on the clock.
The result means Kwara United moved one place on the log from the 5th to the 4th position.
Speaking after the match, Kwara United’s Head Coach, Abdullahi Biffo, said it was a tough game and that he was happy to have recorded his first win over Heartland since he took charge of the team.
He revealed that his instruction to the players was that they should not to look at the position of Heartland on the log but to go all out to get all the three points.
Biffo maintained that if Heartland had played the way they did in the first half, it would have been difficult for his side to get all the three points.
”I told the players at half time that this is our worse first half this season and urged them to double their efforts.