Enyimba get Dolphins revenge
League Leaders, Enyimba FC, on Sunday at the Enyimba International Stadium exacted their revenge on Champions, Dolphins FC, winning 2-1 in a keenly contested encounter that could have gone either way. With even exchanges from both sides, it was not until the 12th minute the first attempt on goal came through Muri Ogunbiyi who tried to bend the ball around Keeper, Austin Brown but it went slightly wide.
Three minutes later Kingsley Williams headed out a free kick taken by Ajibade Omolade but it landed at the feet of Musa Aliyu who tried a canon from thirty yards but it went way off the mark.
A minute later it was the champions continuing from where Enyimba left off as Efosa Eguakun tried to make his way into the Enyimba eighteen yard box but he was brought down for a free kick which was taken by Obinna Nnodim.
The effort rattled John Gaadi but the goalkeeper recovered on time before Osunwa could get to the loose ball.
Returnee striker, Endurance Idahor also tried to get into the statistics book, making a forty yard run all the way from the Dolphins eighteen into Enyimba’s area on twenty two minutes but the ball was cleverly taken off his feet by Musa Aliyu to the delight of the crowd.
It was still Dolphins taking the game by the scruff of its neck as Kelechi Osunwa got to the ball at the edge of the Enyimba box, his flick freed Victor Ezeji but Keeper John Gaadi and Ajibade Omolade sandwiched him before he could control the ball leading to an injury to Keeper Gaadi.
On resumption of play (32nd) Endurance Idahor continued to pester the Enyimba de fence until he won a corner which was wasted anyway.
Two minutes later, Ezeji, Osunwa and Idahor combined well at the edge of the Enyimba box releasing Victor Babayaro who’s thirty yarder was saved by an obviously injured Gaadi.
Governor Kalu takes coaching duties
At this point an enraged, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu dashed down the State box straight to Enyimba’s bench to tongue lash Coach Okey Emordi on why he still left Gaadi on the pitch when he was injured.
At this point, Sam Okoye came in for John Gaadi but the Governor remained seated on the Enyimba bench with over twenty security personnel standing behind him.
In the 38th minute, Dolphins Keeper began his case for national recognition when he leaped high up in the air to stop a glancing header from Musa Aliyu which was as good as in the net.
The last five minutes of the half probably had more drama than the first forty minutes; first it was Williams who tried a pile driver from thirty yards that was stopped easily by Okoye with five minutes to go.
A minute later, Brown again saved Dolphins when he stretched full length to parry a free kick taken by Ajibade Omolade.
Just as the spectators were still discussing that save, Keeper Brown again was called to duty as he dived full length to save a point blank shot from Atanda Shakibu.
Just before the half time whistle sounded, Musa Aliyu intelligently turned away Victor Babayaro but his effort went wide off the mark.
Four minutes into the restart, IFeanyi Obediah came in for Eric Fashindo and almost scored with his first touch of the ball a minute later when Uduak Udofia cleared the ball unto his path, but it went slightly wide.
On fifty three minutes, Idahor steals the ball from Odey Ogar but Sam Okoye was alert, stopping his shot in its tracks.
A minute later it was Enyimba again as Shakibu went clear of the Dolphins defence but hit the upright.
Efosa Eguakun who was having a quiet game got the spectators to notice him when he cleverly turned out Omolade, but his pull out which got to the feet of Idahor was blasted wide in what could rank as the miss of the day.
Not to be out done by the ambitious Port Harcourt side, Enyimba took up the gauntlet once more and eventually got the opener through a goal mouth scramble in the 60th minute.
Austin Brown had saved twice but his second attempt landed at the feet of Muri Ogunbuyi who cleverly tucked in behind a hapless Brown and more than four green shirted Dolphins players who were ball watching all the time.
But it took Dolphins only five minutes to recover as Victor Ezeji got behind the Enyimba defence to nod home a pull out from Uduak Udofia.
Without allowing the equalizer to dampen their spirit, Enyimba almost went ahead a minute later but Atanda Shakibu’s header went wide.
With fourteen minutes to go Dolphins would have Brown to thank for keeping them alive as he had to stretch full length once again to parry a shot from Shakibu before Uduak Udofia cleared out the loose ball.
On eighty three minute, Muri Oginbuyi showed flashes of tight ball handling when he almost freed substitute Ibrahim Jubrin in Dolphins box but Obinna Nnodim’s outstretched leg saved the day.
With two minutes to go, Muri Ogunbuyi latched on a mis-kick by Victor Babayaro and put Yusuf Mohammed into space.
Yusuf’s pull out got the Shakibu who cheekily back heeled the ball behind Austin Brown for the decider.
“I am very disappointed we could not hold on with two minutes to go,” Dolphins Technical Adviser, Musa Abdulahi told nigeriasports.com after the match.
“I came here to win because that is what I did last year, but when you have to lose a game with just two minutes to go after playing so well, you must be disappointed.”
Atanda Shakibu was so delighted after scoring the winner that he could hardly stand on his feet.
“Scoring the winning goal was sweet, especially against a side like Dolphins,” Shakibu told nigeriasports.com.
Enyimba have now gone five points clear of their closest rivals while Dolphins who are tenth on the table are left to rue their fate.
Enyimba
John Gaadi/Sam Okoye 36th, Yusuf Mohammed, Ajibade Omolade, Musa Aliyu, Odey Ogar, Raji Nojeem, Sunday Mba, Atanda Shakibu, Eric Fasindo/Ifeanyi Obediah 50th, Daniel Njoku/ Ibrahim Jubrin 74th, Muri Ogunbuyi
Dolphins
Austin Brown, Uduak Udofia, Jide Micheal, Kingsley Williams, Ahmed Abdulrahman, Obinna Nnodim, Efosa Eguakun, Victor Ezeji, Endurance Idahor, Victor Babayaro, Kelechi Osunwa
Cautions
Kingsley Williams/ Dolphins/47th minute
Muri Ogunbuyi/ Enyimba/ 61st minute
Ahmed Abdulrahman/ Dolphins 81st minute
Victor Ezeji/ Dolphins/ 87th minute
In other results from last weekend’s premier league matches, Julius Berger beat Zamfara United three nil while Nasarawa United were two-one winners over Gombe United.
In Owerri it was Iwuanyanwu NAtionale one, Gateway one while Rangers International triumphed two-nil over Lobi stars.
Insurance beat Elkanemi one-nil in their new home in Kaduna while Pillars whacked Niger Tornadoes two zero.
In Bauchi it was Wikki tourists two, Kwara United zero, while the result in Lagos was one goal a piece between NPA and Shooting Stars.
Enyimba with thirty seven points from seventeen matches have now gone five points clear of second placed Rangers who have thirty two points with one game in hand.
Shooting stars are third on thirty points while Gombe come a close fourth, also with thirty points.
At the bottom, Gateway still reign supreme despite their away draw against NAtionale.
Second from bottom are Tornadoes who have thirteen points from fifteen games while Gabros are third from bottom with sixteen points from seventeen games.
