Enyimba Football Club have shot to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League championship playoff with a 3-1 win against FC Ifeanyi Uba at the Agege Stadium on Monday evening, National Daily gathered.
Reuben Bala scored a brace and Bashir Abdulrahaman added a third to render Promise James’s spectacular freekick harmless and push the former champions close to a record eight NPFL title.
Enyimba controlled the early exchanges and took a worthy lead in the nineteen minute when Abdulrahaman capitalised on a loose ball to set up Bala, who rounded the keeper before slotting into the net with his left foot.
A flurry of chances ensued for the former champions. Abdulrahaman cut in from the left and saw his curler deflected out of touch before Sharp Uzoigwe denied Freedom Omofoman’s header from the resultant corner and Anaemena nodded wide from close range.
National Daily learnt that Ifeanyi Uba pulled out of their shells after the half hour and drew level in style when Promise James’s thunderous freekick from over thirty yards found its way past Theophilus Afelokhai into the net.
Enyimba came close to an immediate response but Bala shot wide from close range after another show of industry by Abdulrahaman.
Bala made up for the miss shortly before the break, pouncing on a rebound from his own effort to shoot into the roof of the net, following an initial strike by Omofoman.