Bendel Insurance’s five-match winning streak in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) came to a halt by Gombe United who forced them to a goalless draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday.
The Benin Arsenals, who returned to the top flight after almost three years in the second division this season, won their opening five games of the campaign and were looking for a third successive home win when they hosted the Gombe state side.
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Prior to the start of the game, a minute of silence was observed in honour of late Kingsley Nnaemeka, Assistant Referee of Abia Council, who lost his life in a car accident few days ago.
Top scorer Imade Osarenkhoe had the first chance of the game creating an opening for himself but his attempt went off target. The visitors then had the opportunity to test the home side’s defence moments later but Umar Ahmad couldn’t find the right connection.
Having scored in back-to-back games, Taye Yusuf was picked out by goalkeeper George Abine before racing through on goal only to fire his shot into the side of the net. The half barely produced clear-cut goalscoring chances as the two sides went into the break without any goal.
Monday Odigie of Bendel Insurance made a couple of changes but his side still struggled to create chances against the Savannah Scorpions.
With less than 20 minutes to go, Divine Nwachukwu fed Imade with a fine ball behind the Gombe United defence only for the league’s leading scorer to miss the target by a mile. Despite a late push from the home side, Aliyu Zubairu’s side held on for the remainder of the game to nick another point on the road.
As a result, Bendel Insurance dropped points for the first time this season but still maintain their unbeaten start to the season, while Gombe United are now unbeaten in their last four games.
Bendel Insurance meanwhile still remain top of the Group A standings with 16 points from 6 matches and will next face Shooting Stars next Sunday.
In the day’s other game, Dakkada slumped to a 4-2 home loss at the hands of Abia Warriors. Emmanuel Onu opened the scoring for the visitors before John Peter doubled their advantage only for Emmanuel Ayaosi to half the deficit.
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Felix Aniekwe then restored his side’s two-goal cushion at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. However, Dakkada skipper Aniekan Ekpe scored to set up a grandstand finish to the game but it was the Warriors who sealed their win through Monday Yakubu in stoppage time.
Match day six action continues on Sunday in Groups A and B across other centres.
