Champions Enyimba secured their second succesive Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) win in four days, with a hard fought 2-1 win over visiting Niger Tornadoes, in a match day 15 tie played at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday.
The Peoples Elephants took the lead through Nzube Anaezemba in the 17th minute. Tornadoes levelled terms in the 32nd minute courtesy of Bolaji Adeyemo's header, before Ike ThankGod sealed the win three minutes into the second half.
Basking in the euphoria of the midweek win over arch rivals, Kano Pillars in Kano, Enyimba fielded a potent 4-3-3 formation, despite relegating Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Peter Onyekachi and Joseph Osadiaye to the bench. Niger Tornadoes coach Abdullahi Biffo made four changes to the side that defeated El-Kanemi on matchday 14, with Salami Kingsley, Lukman Mohammed and Bala Saidu starting for the visitors.
Enyimba got the game to a blistering start in the sixth minute, when Abu Azeez struck the woodwork from 20 yards. Tornadoes keeper Mustapha Aliko denied Daniel Etor with a finger tip save before the quarter hour mark. But the hosts' wait for the opening lasted 17 minutes. Anaezemba's low strike squeezed through a forest of legs in the box and into the back of the net.
The visitors thought they had equalised in the 27th minute, when Tswanga Samuel's dangerous throw-in unsettled Enyimba keeper Femi Thomas. Though Kester Kelly turned the ball in his own net, the referee struck it out as he felt Thomas infringed in the process.
Enyimba were punished for Thomas' inconsistency, when the former Akwa United safehands ran out of options as Lukman Mohammed's cross caught him unawares, before Bolaji Adeyemo headed into an empty net in the 32nd minute. Thomas almost conceded a second minutes later as Saidu's corner left him helpless, before Adeyemo nodded above the woodwork. Abiodun Adebayo's last ditch intervention denied Azeez from restoring Enyimba's lead before the break.
Ike ThankGod sealed Enyimba's victory three minutes after the restart, squeezing Chima Akas' cross past Aliko. Azeez hit the woodwork from a similar position 10 minutes to the end of the game.
There was time for late drama as ThankGod's intervention in added time proved vital and ensured Enyimba amassed maximum points in two successive fixtures. The win moves Enyimba to 11th on the log, as Tornadoes sink further to 16th.
Match details
Enyimba: Thomas, Ojo, Akas, Kelly, ThankGod, Udoji, Udoh, Anaezemba, Leonard, Azeez, Etor
Niger Tornadoes: Aliko, Ferinyaro, Tswanya, Adebayo, Chinedu, Ibrahim, Adeyemo, Gata, Saidu, Salami, Lukman
