Champions Enyimba continued their steady rise on the NPFL, climbing to ninth position after a deserved 2-0 win over FC IfeanyiUbah in an Oriental derby decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Saturday.
Commander of many Oriental league battles, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu put the Peoples Elephant ahead with a volley on seventeen minutes before Dream Team star, Daniel Etor made sure of victory when he rounded off a flowing team move on the hour mark to put the game beyond the visitors.
Enyimba went into the game on the back of a six-game unbeaten streak in the league, a sequence their visitors must find mountainous seeing they had fail to score in their last four away games this term.
The Champions who have also struggled in their last three home games (winning just once) were quick off their blocks on the day and almost went in front as early as the fifth minute. Former Warri Wolves attacker, Abu Azeez somehow failed to hit the target with his effort after some resilient play by forward Ugochukwu Leonard.
Chances were few and far between in the opening quarter with tackles flying here and there but the game's curtain raiser came after a spell of Enyimba possession. Winger Daniel Etor saw his freekick palmed away by IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper Edwin Nwakamma but the opener came from the ensuing corner kick.
Etor's corner delivery was cleared at the first attempt but the defence remained in their sixes and sevens. Ibenegbu graciously volleyed home a misplaced clearance from just inside the box and right under the body of goalkeeper Nwakamma.
The visitors failed to threaten their hosts in the final third. Not even the combination of their front four comprising of four different nationals (Pascal Seka - Coted'voire, Koffi Nti - Ghanaian, Alberico da Silva - Brazilian and Bright Onyedikachi - Nigerian) came close to rumple Enyimba's new found defensive partners, Ike ThankGod and Chinedu Udoji.
Enyimba stepped up their chase for an insurance goal early in the second half and after Ugochukwu Leonard and Abu Azeez had missed half chances, the goal came on the hour mark in a sumptuous fashion.
Mfon Udoh and Abu Azeez were involved in the build-up right from the Enyimba half and both players continued their run into the box, Azeez cutting inside his marker after latching on to Chima Akas' ball before freeing Udoh who in turn set-up Etor Daniel. The fleet-footed star expertly stroke the ball beyond the hapless Nwakamma.
The IfeanyiUbah bench resorted to a tactical change six minutes later when they withdrew fullback Ikechukwu Mbonu (who was in the danger of a second booking) for attacking midfielder Jimoh Oni. That still failed to rattle the formidable Aba Elephants even if goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai had to produce a decent save to stop Henry Okebugwu's angled freekick.
The result sees Enyimba climb four places up the ladder to ninth on the log with 24 points despite having two games in hand on the other teams while IfeanyiUbah remains 5th pending the results of Sunday's league action.
Match details
ENYIMBA: 1. Theophilus Afelokhai 16. Dare Ojo 27. Chima Akas 12. Kelly Kester 26. Chinedu Udoji 24. Ike ThankGod 13. Daniel Etor (Joseph Osadiaye 85') 15. Ibenegbu Ikechukwu 18. Leonard Ugochukwu (Christian Pyagbara 63') 3. Abu Azeez (Peter Onyekachi 90') 10. Mfon Udoh
Unused subs: 2. Ocheje Moses 33. Aloma Idris 5. Anaemena Ifeanyi 28. Kamaldeen Sikiru
BOOKED: Dare Ojo 22'
GOALS: Ikechukwu Ibenegbu 17' Daniel Etor 60'
FC IFEANYIUBAH: 1. Edwin Nwakamma 30. Wilson Elu 23. Ikechukwu Mbonu (Jimoh Oni 66') 34. Ngoma Luamba 5. Onyekachi Akakem 20. Chibuzor Okonkwo 11. Bright Onyedikachi (Okereke Maduabuchi 82') 6. Henry Okebugwu 9. Koffi Nti Boakye (Mohammed Suleiman 43') 27. Alberico Da Silva 26. Pascal Seka
Unused subs: 12. Uche Okafor 32. Edum Cyril 8. Tamen Medrano 10. Oluchukwu Nwosu
BOOKED: Ikechukwu Mbonu 20'
GOAL: NIL
Man of the Match: Ikechukwu Ibenegbu
Referee: Femi Samson
STATS: ENYIMBA - IFEANYIUBAH
Shots (On target): 8 (3) - 6 (4)
Corners: 4 - 4
Fouls: 20 - 15
Offside: 6 - 1
Bookings: 1 - 1
Shots (On target): 8 (3) - 6 (4)
Corners: 4 - 4
Fouls: 20 - 15
Offside: 6 - 1
Bookings: 1 - 1
