Enyimba International displayed their title aspirations in stunning fashion by crushing the resistance of the Solid Miners with a fine 3-1 victory in Aba on Thursday in the rescheduled Match Day 1 fixture of the two weeks old Nigeria Professional Football League.
A brace of goals from tricky midfielder Oladapo and a sumptuous Obi Samson strike helped the Aba Warriors to their first win of the new league season.
Today's results#NPFL20 pic.twitter.com/EYE2G39bax
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) November 14, 2019
A brilliant start for the defending champions resulted in a penalty which Oladapo dispatched with aplomb to open the scoring with barely 20 minutes on the clock.
And deep into the half, it was 2-0 to the home side after Obi slotted into the bottom corner following a great run and assist from Abalogu.
With the hour mark approaching, coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru's men halved the deficit thanks to a huge slice of luck. Nasarawa were awarded a penalty but Afelokhai in goal for Enyimba made a stunning save. However, Owolabi was the quickest to react, hitting the rebound in for the visitors.
A cagey encounter followed and the next goal was always going to be crucial. It fell however to the People's Elephants as that man, Oladapo, again applied a sweet, first time finish to a brilliant assist from Onuwa.
The win lifts Enyimba international to third on the league table after claiming four points from a possible six.
In other matches played same day, Rangers compounded the woes of Sunshine Stars of Akure with a slender 1-0 win at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu while Akwa United and Abia Warriors settled for a goalless draw.
