17 February 2011
Nigeria Premier League champions Enyimba have continued their surge up the table after a first win over local rivals Heartland in three years in Aba.
A fifth minute goal by skipper of the day Josiah Maduabuchi Wednesday in a rescheduled game has catapulted The peoples elephant to sixth place with 25 points from 15 matches.
Left back John Agbawu scoffed his shot inside the box and the loose ball fell to Maduabuchi, who pounced from seven yards out to beat Heartland goalkeeper Austin Brown.
This was just moments after Maduabuchi went inches close inside a minute of kick-off.
The Oriental derby was played at a frantic pace as Enyimba attacked from the off and at the other end of the pitch, the pace and directness of Bello Musa Kofarmata and youngster Temitope Olusesi also kept the Enyimba back four led by Emmanuel and Nnaemeka Anyanwu on their toes.
Enyimba right winger Philip Auta was outstanding in the first half, but failed to make hay before half time when he went clear inside the box and fired his shot narrowly off target.
Kano Pillars have also climbed in the standings after coming from behind to beat Gombe United 2-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Gombe stunned their hosts on 25 minutes through a Rafiu Salaudeen goal.
However, Pillars showed character to draw level in the 46th minute through fit-again John Huan, before on-form Gambo Mohammed netted his fifth goal of the season from a penalty kick 10 minutes later.
We had to really dig deep to draw level and it was also to the credit of the players to then go on to win the game, said Pillars chairman, Tukur Babangida.
Pillars are seventh on the table having recorded 23 points with a game in hand, while are 15th with 18 points.
The man of the match in Yenagoa Wednesday was Chigozie Christopher, who scored a goal and provided three assists as Ocean Boys dismantled bottom club JUTH FC.
Former Enyimba star Ekenne Ezenwa powered home the opening goal in the 15th minute through a header off a corner taken by Christopher.
Michael Andrew doubled Ocean Boys lead on the half hour mark after he was set up by the dazzling Christopher, who also created his teams third goal scored Emma Enize in the 77th minute.
JUTH pulled a goal back in the 84th minute through Uche Martins, before Christopher crowned a super individual show on the stroke of full time with a goal of his own from a free kick on the edge of the box.
Ocean Boys have thus moved up to 11th position with 20 points from 15 matches as JUTH dismissed coach Tunde Abdulrahman.
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