Enyimba managed an uninspiring goalless draw in Sunday’s encounter with visiting MFM of Lagos in their adopted home ground, Port Harcourt.
At this stage of the season, it’s all but sewn up for the League’s defending Champions who with back to back defeats in their last two fixtures have lost touch of the leading pack. The title and much desired continental spots meekly surrendered with two match days to go.
Perhaps the visitors needed this more, seeing they found themselves at the the wrong end of the League table. Enyimba was just about ending the season on a high- and remedying a winless run which has with this result stretched into its third game.
With the gruesome fixtures, Paul Aigbogun’s side was literally down to bare bones. This was the seventh fixture in 22 days and the latest casualty of the pileup was reliable centre back Emmanuel Anyanwu who leaped off in the defeat at Abeokuta. With Ifeanyi Anaemena injured and Uche John also unavailable, Udoji was recalled into the starting 11 and more worryingly, the substitute bench had no centre back or defender at all.
Musa Najare continued upfront albeit paired with Stephen Chukwude back in the lineup after sitting out the last two games. Ifeanyi George filled up at right back and Daniel Etor was handed a start on the left flank. Etor and Chukwude looked lively in the opening moments but the men in white could not apply the right finish.
Nzube Anaezemba fashioned out a chance for himself in the 12th minute but Najare feeling he was better positioned, put the shot away but not cleanly enough to trouble the visiting goalkeeper. The visitors would eventually began to settle well and before long got into their nice passing rhythm.
Udoji showed defensive awareness to deny MFM just after the hour mark when a trademark counter slipped through and looked threateningly toward the Enyimba goal but the skipper timed his effort and nipped the ball clear. Minutes later, Chukwude sprung the offside trap and lobbed Abayomi but the effort trickled wide.
The second period saw more urgency from both sides but defenses were on top and neither goalkeeper had significant saves to make. Enyimba withdrew Najare for Onuigbo and when that change failed to yield any fruit, Joseph Osadiaye was brought on for Mfon Udoh. Osadiaye notably went on a brilliant mazy run into the MFM half that left purple bodies in its wake but again poor finishing cost Enyimba.
Akas sent in a couple of dangerous crosses into the MFM area but they were dealt with. They had smelt a precious away point and the visitors were hanging on. Eric Frimpong had a chance which he narrowly flashed wide. Stephen Chukwude had one more chance with just seconds left of the regulation time and while he struck it cleanly, it missed the target by inches.
At the end, both teams got a point apiece in a game where nothing went according to plan for Paul Aigbogun’s men.
credit: thenationonlineng