By y Sam Nnaji (from Enyimba Stadium)
Enyimba cast aside their midweek
disappointment to rump to a 4-0
thumping of Bayelsa United at the
Enyimba International Stadium in
Match Day 27 fixture played Sunday
evening,
Chimezie Amanfor opened scoring on
the 41st minute after the Bayelsa
defenders had failed to deal with a ball
inside the box. Mfon Udoh who came
in for Andrew Abalogu minutes earlier
made it two just before half time.
Nzube Anaezemba continued his goal
scoring spree at home with a
beautifully curled effort on the 55th
minute. Emeka Nwanna then made it
four in stoppage time lifting the ball
over Ambrose Vansekin in goal for
Bayelsa United.
Enyimba had some players back from
the treatment table. Striker
Abdulrahman Bashir made his first
start in 3 months while Uche John
who had been nursing a knee injury
was only fit enough for the bench.
Bayelsa United were missing their top
goal scorer Peter Ebimobowei who
was suspended but they had four
former Enyimba players in their
starting eleven including goalkeeper
Vansekin,
Bayelsa United were better in the
opening exchanges; sturdy defending,
committed challenges and choosing to
play on the break. For the first half of
an hour, they brilliantly kept Enyimba
at bay.
Kadiri Ikhana then twitched his
formation, swapping Andrew Abalogu
for Mfon Udoh; the substitute's pace
and movement adding a different
dimension to Enyimba's attack and on
the 41st minute, the breakthrough
came.
Meshack Chukwubuikem exchanged
passes with Udoh who fired at
Vansekin. The keeper parried into the
path of Chimezie Amanfor who fired
at goal. The ball took a slight
deflection on its way in and while a
white shirt tried to hack it out, the ball
had crossed the line already. The
Assistant referee confirmed that it
had indeed crossed the line.
Seven minutes were added due to an
earlier injury to Ambrose Vansekin
and Enyimba got their second on the
fifth minute of the seven? Ugwu
Uwadeigwu crossed in from the right
and Mfon stole in behind Azubuike
Okechukwu to nick it beyond the
goalkeeper.
Their onslaught continued in the
second half with Amanfor forcing a
save from Vansekin. His opposite
number Femi Thomas had barely done
anything all day.
Enyimba made it three in the 55th
minute when Nzube curled a lovely
effort beyond Vansekin. Then, Bayelsa
tried to respond but Bernard
Okorowanta's strike from a Frank
Egharevba pass was wayward.
But the hosts were not done yet. Udoh
forced Vansekin to a finger-tip save
from a freekick and minutes later, he
denied the striker again in a one on
one situation. Nwanna entered the
fray in the closing stages and got
Enyimba's 4th lifting Anaezemba's
through ball over the onrushing
Vamsekin.
The referee's whistle sounded soon
after ending a miserable day in office
for the visitors.
Enyimba: Thomas, Zakka,
Uwadiegwu, Olabiyi, Udoji, Amanfor,
Bashri, Meshack, Anaezemba,
Abalogu. Subs: Godwin, Ojobo, John,
Aliyu, Sokari, Mfon, Nwanna
Bayelsa United: Vansekin,Tswanya,
Adegoke, Azubuike, Salomon,
Aghahowa, Okorowanta, Oduokpe,
Frimpong, Erepamo, Egharevba. Subs:
Gambo, Ineididie, Oladapo, Gabriel,
Binaebi, Sherif, Tonbara
Match Stats:
Fouls 8-17
Offsides 1-1
Corner Kicks 11-3
Shots on target 15-3
Off target 9-3
Yellow Cards 2-1
Red Card 0-0