Enyimba shoved their midweek disappointment behind them with a 4-0 thumping of Bayelsa United at the Enyimba International Stadium on Sunday evening,
Chimezie Amanfor opening scoring in the 41st minute after the Bayelsa defenders had failed to deal with a ball in 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 beautiful curled effort in the 55th minute. Emeka Nwanna then made it four in stoppage time dinking one over Ambrose Vansekin.
Enyimba had some players back from the treatment table. Striker Abdulrahman Bashri 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 goal keeper Ambrose 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 Ihkana 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 in 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 in 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 from the edge of huge area beyond Vansekin.
Bayelsa tried to respond but Bernard Okorowanta strike from a Frank Egharevba pass was wayward.
But the hosts were not done yet. Mfon Udoh forced Ambrose Vansekin to a finger tip save from a freekick and minutes later, he denied the striker again in a one on one situation.
Emeka Nwanna entered the fray in the closing stages and got Enyimba’s 4th lifting Anaezemba’s through ball over the onrushing Ambrose 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
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
