CAPTAIN FANTASTIC MFON UDOH SAVES ENYIMBA

Mfon Udoh helps Enyimba ease past Nasarawa Utd 2-1

A brace from Mfon Udoh was all Enyimba FC needed to see off a tough Nasarawa United 2-1, in a Matchday 5 fixture decided at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Sunday.

The former Akwa United forward gave the People Elephant the lead in 13th minute from a penalty, before the visitors drew level 10 minutes before the break. Udoh grabbed the winner midway through the second half.

Early pressure from the seven-time champions would force the visitors into defending within the first quarter of the hour. Enyimba had their reward in the 13th minute, when the Lafia side conceded a penalty. Mfon Udoh would step in stylishly to smash the ball into the roof beyond a despairing Nasarawa United goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso.

Kabiru Dogo's men then enjoyed their own good spell and dominated play and almost got an equalizer midway through the first half, when Abdulrahman Bashir's half volley went off target.

Respite came the visitors way 10 minutes before the break, when a quick counter-attack anchored by Anthonin Oussou, landed by the feet of Thomas Zenke, who produced a diagonal for Adamu Hassan to square home from six yards.

The hosts pushed forward to regain control of proceedings after the break, but were severally resisted by a resolute Nasarawa defence and Ayeleso.

Enyimba got the winner through Udoh in the 66th minute, when he latched onto a clever pass from Ugochukwu Leonard, to chip over the goalkeeper, for his third of the campaign.

But there was time for some late drama, as Theophilus Afelokhai and Ifeanyi Anaemena failed to deal with Douglas Achiv's cross, leaving the ball at the mercy of Zenke, who was quickly dispossessed by Dare Ojo, to deny the visitors what would have been a much deserved point.

With the win, Enyimba move into fourth place on the log with 10 points, three points adrift of leaders, Plateau United, while Nasarawa United drop to 16th having amassed five points from a possible 15.

Match Stats
Corners: 2-3
Shots: 8-5
On Target: 4-2
Fouls: 13-14
Yellow Cards: 1-1
Red Cards: 0-0
Offsides: 5-3
Saves: 2-3