…home team deserved win – Enyimba boss
There was wild jubilation among soccer fans in Ilorin yesterday, as Kwara United defeated visiting Enyimba 3-2 in their NPFL week 3 match played at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.
But the home fans would never forget the pain and tension they went through from the blast of the whistle till the final minute.
Enyimba had a good plan to win the match in Ilorin considering how they started the encounter as they clipped the wings of the home players in the first 10 minutes.
Their breakthrough however came in the 18th minute when Joseph Osadiaye netted a fantastic goal.
But their tension was reduced in the 31st minute when Segun Alebiosu restored parity for Kwara United after dribbling two Enyimba defenders before sending goalkeeper Dauda Fatau the wrong direction.
But the home fans were once again disappointed when United defender Sunday brought down Serge Paul in which the referee had no choice than to give a penalty.
Osadiaye stepped forward to convert the kick which sent the home fans to total silence and panic in the 58th minute.
At exactly 61 minutes, a pure class from the Kwara United attacker, Segun Alebiosu equalises for the host, beating his marker and calmly slot pass the goalkeeper – making it 2-2 level.
Former ABS striker Abdulrahman Bashir had the chance to put Enyimba ahead again when Thomas Zenke and Ibrahim Mustapha combined well to deliver a brilliant pass, but he missed the glorious chance.
Usman Mohamed then scored the winning goal for Kwara United in the 73rd minute via a powerful header as the Harmony Boys won the match 3-2.
Speaking with the press after the match, the coach of Kwara United, Bala Abubakar describes the victory as a worthy one.
“It is a very tough one, playing a team like Enyimba at home at the early stage of the league when the hasn’t get fixed together.
“The victory we had today is largely owing to the commitment and some little changes we were able to make in the team.
“Having this result today, I think it is a worthy victory”, Bala said.
In the same vein, the Head Coach of Enyimba FC’s Usman Abdullahi said that Kwara united football club of Ilorin deserve the winning.
“Kwara united deserved the victory, no doubt about that. They displaced fantastic performances that merit the victory they had, he said.
Kwara United will be on their way to Benin today where they will face Bendel Insurance in their next game on Wednesday.
The Insurance of Benin were also impressive in their own match day 3 tie forcing Remo Stars to a 1-1 draw.
Earlier, Plateau United FC beats Elkanami of Maiduguri 2-0 at the Kwara State stadium Complex, Ilorin.
Plateau United got the opener through Sawed Jibrin’s effort. Consequently, the central referee awarded penalty for Abdul maikaba’s side after Hamzat Owolabi was caught by the goal keeper, with Bernad Ovoke converting the spot-kick.
The victory makes the first match of three expected matches the team will play after been banned from home by the Nigerian Football Federation before the unleash the fans had on the sports officials.
MATCH STATISTICS
Kwara United 4 4 9 4 2 – 3
Enyimba 3 1 15 – 4 – 2
