Reigning league champions Enyimba FC on Thursday smashed Gombe United 4-0 to go top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table on a day Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Abia Warriors also enjoyed their first wins of the second stanza.
Two matches were decided in Aba on Match Day 22 with hosts Enyimba facing beleaguered Gombe United in the day’s first match. The People’s Elephant knew that a win with multiple goals difference could take them to the top of the table and they did just that.
After squandering a number of gilt-edged chances, Enyimba eventually took the lead just before half time when club’s topscorer Chijioke Mbaoma dusted himself up to convert from the penalty spot. Mbaoma then tapped into an empty net for his second goal after Chidiebere Nnachi had beaten Gombe goalkeeper to an undercooked back pass.
Substitute Uche Collins then headed home a 3rd after goalkeeper Itodo Akor fumbled Imoh Obot’s free kick before Obot himself curled home a free kick in stoppage time to send Finidi George’s Enyimba top of the log after Match Day 22.
In the day’s second game, Abia Warriors defeated Kwara United 1-0 courtesy of Sunday Megwo’s majestic finish in the 54th minute. It was Warriors’ first game since head coach Erasmus Onuh was suspended on Wednesday night.
In Onuh’s absence, Bethel Orji took charge of Abia Warriors and Thursday’s game showed how much of a mark the team can make in the remaining games of this season.
In Ibadan, Shooting Stars left it so late before compounding the woes of Bendel Insurance at the Lekan Salami Sports Stadium. Right back Taiye Muritala provided the game’s crucial moment in second half stoppage time when his header beat Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie.
Match Day 23 comes up on Sunday.
Match Day 22 Results:
Abia Warriors 1-0 Kwara Utd3
3SC 1-0 Bendel Insurance
Enyimba 4-0 Gombe Utd
Sporting Lagos 2-1 Akwa Utd
Katsina Utd 3-2 Kano Pillars
Heartland 1-5 Plateau United
Rangers 1-0 Remo Stars
Bayelsa Utd 2-0 Doma Utd
Sunshine Stars 2-0 Lobi Stars
