Enyimba International have ended Mountain of Fire and Miracles
Ministries football club, MFM, winning streak at home after a controversial 1-1
draw in Agege on Sunday.
A superb volley
from Bashir Abdulrahaman gave Enyimba a 1-0 lead three minutes into the second
half, before it took another excellent effort to produce the next goal in the
match, this time from the hosts, who grabbed the leveler.
Akuneto Chijioke’s
wonderful low drive from just outside the visitors’ box earned MFM a much
deserved equaliser, ten minutes after going a goal behind.
MFM had won six of
their matches at home this season, but on a very hot day in Agege, they were
denied two penalties, one in the first half and another in stoppage time as
they shared the spoils with Enyimba.
“After the hard
work, it is painful”, a disappointed Fidelis Ilechukwu said moments after the
game.
“Let’s play
football. It has happened before, it’s not the first, second or even third
time. It’s a shame.”
The match, which
was between the first and second teams in Group A, started in a rather
disappointing manner with both sides failing to test both goalkeepers in the
opening half.
Only a penalty
appeal waved aside by the referee, after Akuneto was hacked down in the Enyimba
box, from the hosts in the first half provided the best moment in a very dull
first 45 minutes.
It ended goalless
at the break with neither side having done enough to really break the deadlock.
However, three
minutes after the restart, there was a breakthrough as the People’s Elephant
got their noses in front thanks to a brilliant Abdulrahaman volley from inside
the box off a throw-in.
That goal changed
the game and appeared to wake up the home side, who began to pile on the
pressure in search of the equaliser.
Ten minutes after
going behind, their pressure finally paid off when Akuneto’s effort from range
evaded a sea of legs into the bottom left corner to draw MFM level.
The Olukoya Boys
seemed rejuvented after that goal and went in search for the winner, pegging
Enyimba back in their own half with a barrage of attacks.
The Aba side soaked
up all the pressure with ease until two minutes into stoppage time when a shot
from an MFM corner appeared to come off the hand of an Enyimba defender inside
his own box.
Like in the first
half, the referee once again ignored their appeals and waved play on, before
finally calling an end to the game.
The result means
MFM lose their winning streak at home but remain top on 23 points, while
Enyimba retain their second spot on 20 points.
Speaking after the game, a satisfied Enyimba coach, Usman
Abd’Allah (L), had this to say;
“We came here to
confirm our superiority over them [MFM], ” he said.
“I didn’t come to
play for a draw, i came to win. But as i said, if we don’t get the three
points, i am ready to settle with a draw. So, i am very happy with the result.”
On the penalty
incident, Abd’Allah added;
“It was a high
tension match, and as you can see. You give the referee credit. I think the
officiating was okay, most times the teams playing [at] home always complain,
it is normal- we also complain when we are playing at home.”
“So, sometimes you
give credit to the referees, they are doing a good job.”
Up next for MFM,
they are on the road as they on Kwara United in Ilorin while Enyimba host NPFL
newbies, Bendel Insurance in Aba on April 7.
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