By Sanipe Damiete in Aba
A solitary goal in the 15th minute by Tobi Iyanda was all Enyimba needed to get maximum points as they beat Kun Khalifat in a Matchday 11 encounter of the EUROMATCH Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in Aba on Sunday.
Struggling in the relegation zone and not being able to get the better of their opponents in two tries, Enyimba were under pressure to deliver the goods.
In an exciting start from both sides, the home team were fortunate to get the opener to calm nerves when a good team play down the right saw Obichere Odinaka deliver a very good low cross into the box that was well connected by Iyanda to give Enyimba the lead.
The People’s Elephant did not rest on their lead as they took the game to their opponents and three minutes later were awarded a penalty when a cross into the box struck the hand of a Kun khalifat player under pressure and the ref wasted no time to point to the spot.
Ifeanyi Ihemekwele who had a poor game with wasted opportunities, not being able to hold ball and losing possession until he was replaced in the second half; stepped forward to take the spot kick and compounded his general play when Kun Khalifat goalkeeper Ekwujuru Esomchi dived right to save his spot kick.
Kun Khalifat for all their efforts came close to getting something from the game but fluffed their chances as Enyimba also could not double their lead in this heated oriental derby.
With this victory, Enyimba move out of the bottom-four and are now in 16th place while their opponents are in 15th position.