Sunshine Stars quest for the Premier League title suffered a blip following a 3-1 defeat to Enyimba International in a Week 18 clash at the Aba Stadium on Wednesday.
In a top of the table clash, Nzube Anaezemba and Ezekiel Bassey netted after a Stephen Eze own goal to hand the People’s Elephant a healthy lead before Tunde Adeniji pulled a consolation goal from the spot.
That notwithstanding, the Akure gunners remain top of the pile, thanks to their healthier goal difference.
The home team showed signs of intent from the start and would have gone ahead in the first minute through Ifeanyi George but the striker’s final ball hit the side netting.
Enyimba kept the pressure but could not go beyond the visiting team’s defence.
Cameroonian midfielder, Tamen Maderano, tested Femi Thomas from 20 yards in the 12th minute but the keeper showed safe hands.
The best chance of the opening stages fell to George, who failed to hit the target after rounding Ikechukwu Ezenwa in the Sunshine goal.
The breakthrough however would come on the 36th minute through defender Stephen Eze, who had prior to the time, had done well in shackling Christian Obiozor.
Bassey did well down the right and sent in a low cross into the area.
Eze’s attempt at clearing saw the ball loop over Ezenwa and into his goal.
Enyimba doubled at the stroke of half time and it was a good show of vision by Anazemeba.
The midfielder was allowed to proceed unopposed to the edge of the box and from there his strike arrowed its way into the top corner, grazing Obiozor’s boots on its way.
Enyimba’s third came three minutes after the restart through Ezekiel Bassey.
The tricky winger disposed Adigun Adebayo and raced toward goal.
His right footed strike beat Ezenwa and found the bottom corner.
In way of response, Sunshine striker, Tunde Adeniji, crashed a header onto Femi Thomas’s cross-bar while Paul Onobi’s long range effort pulled a brilliant save off the Enyimba goalkeeper.
The Akure gooners would eventually get the consolation when Emmanuel Anyanwu brought down Ozor Chinedu late in the game.
Adeniji sent Thomas the other way, netting the resulting penalty and scoring his ninth Premier League goal of the campaign so far.
Perhaps Enyimba has won the battle and the war for the Premier League title is still very much ongoing but they have shown their rivals that will not give it up without a fight.
Results
El-Kanemi 1 – 1 Heartland FC
Kano Pillars 1 – 1 Wikki Tourists
Dolphins FC 1 – 0 Shooting Stars
Giwa FC 2 – 1 Nasarawa
FC IfeanyiUbah 1 – 2 Kwara United
Sharks FC 2 – 0 Abia Warriors
Enyimba 3 – 1 Sunshine Stars
Bayelsa United 0 – 0 Rangers FC
Lobi Stars FC 1 – 0 Akwa United
—