Firhill Complex
An incredible game, with ineffective defending against very talented opponents (many who are playing at high levels and who have now scored 20 goals in their last three league matches) counterbalanced by an outstanding comeback display with great finishes and high tempo play and commitment throughout the team eventually leading to all three points being secured.
15 minutes NEW ROVERS 0-3 ATM ATM opened the scoring almost immediately from kickoff with their very dangerous wide right player - signed with Kilmarnock- scoring, setting up a second counter for his team then adding his second with a powerful finish.
40 minutes NEW ROVERS 2-3 ATM ANDREA EKUASE was brought down in the box and scored from the spot. Then JEBRIL ABDULRAHMAN burst through at pace and scored clinically, beating the onrushing goalkeeper. Great finish!
Half time NEW ROVERS 2-5 ATM After getting back into the game, weak Rovers’ defending again allowed ATM to score twice before the interval
55 minutes NEW ROVERS 2-6 ATM ATM added their sixth goal, making a Rovers comeback look highly unlikely. Could the league be lost this afternoon?
62 minutes NEW ROVERS 3-6 ATM Akram Byfanzi’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box for MOHAMMED ALKHABEER to hit a powerful drive into the net from 20 yards.
70 minutes NEW ROVERS 4-6 ATM ANDREA EKUASE, set up by a pass from Jebril Abdulrahman, netted his second goal of the afternoon with a fine finish.
75 minutes NEW ROVERS 5-6 ATM ANDREA EKUASE again, this time from a corner. Hat-trick!
82 minutes NEW ROVERS 6-6 ATM JOHNNY GREENWOOD’s back post header from Abdul Alsahar’s free kick drew the scores level, then …..
89 minutes NEW ROVERS 7-6 ATM With both teams now making huge efforts to grab a winner, Mohamed Alkhabeer drove forward and passed cleverly to JEBRIL ABDULRAHMAN whose great shot into the bottom right corner of the goal gave his team the lead for the first time in the match! Brave, committed defending in injury time ensured Rovers maintained top spot in the league this evening.
ATM undoubtedly took immediate control of the game from the kick off, racing into a 3-0 lead early on. Amandu Bamba’s move to left back, with Nabil Al Humaidi going into midfield shored things up defensively, with both players performing well in their new positions. After reducing the deficit to one goal, poor defending let ATM score twice more virtually unopposed just before the break and Rovers’ great comeback only started after their opponents had added yet another goal. The Back 4 players were now imposing themselves against still lively opponents, with skipper Johnny Greenwood outstanding, and there was a revival in midfield with Nabil Al Humaidi and Cal McGreevy’s energy and quality on the ball taking control in that area. Mohammed Alkhabeer was now a constant threat on the wing, Jebril Abdulrahman’s pace and workrate took his team up the pitch time and again - and then he scored the winner! - and ‘hat-trick hero’ Andrea Ekuase gave his best performance of the season so far with powerful runs with the ball and two great finishes to add to his penalty. Rovers non-stop tempo, closing down and desire to win was eventually rewarded, with the points gained crucial if the league title is going to be retained. A FIVE GOAL COMEBACK!
Team: Greenshields; Hay, Alsahar, Greenwood, Al Humaidi; Javed (Byfanzi), McGreevy, Bamba, Alkhabeer; Abdulrahman, Ekuase. Subs not used: Martins, Ibrahim, Martin, Alaziz.
