By Fisayo Dairo
Ten-man Warri Wolves displayed a resilient character to hold second placed Enyimba to a 1-1 draw at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro in a rescheduled Match Day 10 encounter.
After a delayed start to kickoff occasioned by registration issues, Wolves enjoyed a good start to the game and made it count in the 24th minute when Eru Jackson headed home Efe Yarhere’s superb cross at the far post after a brilliant team move.
Provider of the goal, Yarhere then turned villain after he was sent off for a second booking in the 43rd minute after his late aerial challenge knocked Enyimba’s Hassan Abubakar unconscious, prompting the centre back to be taken to the hospital on an ambulance. Hassan has since been in a stable condition.
Enyimba made full use of the numerical advantage by drawing level with virtually the last kick of the first half. From a good passage of play, striker Victor Mbaoma, starting for the first time since MatchDay 4, made his way into the box to head Emmanuel Ampiah’s brilliant cross into the bottom corner.
Both teams gave all they could in the second half to add to the tally with Wolves creating the best chance in stoppage time but substitute Uche Ihuarulam just about fell short to bundle the ball over the goal line.
Scores remained 1-1 at the end of the game with Enyimba moving up to second position on the log and also extending their unbeaten run in the domestic league to seven matches.
Speaking to www.npfl.ng after the game, Warri Wolves head coach Evans Ogenyi, himself a former Enyimba coach hailed his players doggedness especially in the second half of the game.
“We scored first and the red card happened which I believe was a mis-judgement after that interval which Enyimba player was injured.
“They scored (against) us in the added time of first half so they exploited that our numerical disadvantage and we tried as much as we could to see that we garner the three points but football is an unpredictable game.
“Enyimba too are not a pushover side. We played against a tactical and technical side and we know our position is bad. We needed this match to see that we pushed up the ladder and my boys could have gotten the win if not for anxiety and injuries to my key players but I still give the boys a pass mark,” said Ogenyi in the post-match conference.
It is the second point on the road in successive away matches for Enyimba who also drew 0-0 at Jigawa Golden Stars on Sunday. Head coach Fatai Osho believes it is one point gain for his side considering the nature of the game.
“It would be a point gained for my side looking at the state of the pitch which you have to give kudos to the players who did very well.
“Sometimes you can be a man down and be very very strong. We experienced that in Nasarawa. We were a man down and we won but the response was great. We exploited it within the few minutes before they could make any adjustments and that really helped.
“To me, it is a point game. We keep getting points on the road which shows we are not dropping much. What we need to do is to be a bit tidier at home and we will look at how many of these points we can get on the road and that way we will be close to the title,” said the former Remo Stars coach.
Enyimba will next face FC Ifeanyiubah at home on Sunday before a CAF Confederation Cup game next midweek while Warri Wolves will also welcome Akwa United to Ozoro on Match Day 14.
MATCH DETAILS
Warri Wolves
40. Bulus Pwadadi 2. Wisdom Jumbo (David Chimezie 62′)
25. Olusegun Olalere 15. Daniel Ijeh (Lucius Ozioma 74′) 24. Goodluck Onamado 27. Charles Upele 10. Daniel Mark 19. Efe Yarhere 23. Oghenetega Ebetomame 13. Eru Jackson (David Chimezie) 4. Emeka Udoh (Uche Ihuarulam 84′)
Unused Subs
34. Michael Uwueru 29. Gyenkwe Torkuma 17. Ridwan Agbabiaka
BOOKED: Emeka Udoh, Efe Yarhere
RED CARD: Efe Yarhere
GOAL: Eru Jackson 24′
Enyimba
1. John Noble 22. Stephen Manyo 5. Hassan Abubakar (Timothy Danladi 45′) 6. Nabil Yarou 2. Emmanuel Ampiah 4. Anthony Omaka (Dayo Ojo 89′) 26. Austin Oladapo (Farouk Mohammed 78′) 20. Cyril Olisema 13. Sadiq Abubakar (Samad Kadiri 78′) 25. Victor Mbaoma (Tosin Omoyele 78′) 17. Anayo Iwuala
Unused Subs
12. Olufemi Kayode 29. Imo Obot 19. Gabriel Orok
BOOKED: Anayo Iwuala
GOAL: Victor Mbaoma 45′
