Kano Pillars yesterday defeated rivals Rivers United 1-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League week six fixture played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.
Kano Pillars were reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute after Abbas Rabiu was given a straight red card for ball handling.
Before the setback, the ‘Masu gida’ boys had made their pressure on Rivers United to count in the 19th minute when Nyima Nwagua scored the only goal of the match.
However, with the numerical advantage, Rivers United turned the heat on their hosts as they applied pressure in order to level scores.
Consequently, Pillars who did most of the defending to safeguard their slender lead popped forward occasionally in an attempt to increase their tally.
On one of such occasions, Mallam Awualu forced Pillars former captain, Theophilus Afelokahi to make a point blank save in the 80th minute.
Both sides made several changes but Pillars stood firm to nick the crucial points which have lifted them to fifth position on 11 points from six matches.
Meanwhile, Pillars victory has kept Nasarawa United on top of the log as a win for Rivers United would have dislodged the ‘solid miners’.
