Enyimba 1-0 Kwara United: Bala scores to end winless run

Enyimba ended a run of three matches without a win as Reuben Bala’s first-half goal sealed a 1-0 victory against Kwara United at the Enyimba Stadium on Wednesday.

Reuben Bala won the day for the People’s Elephant with an audacious freekick right after the half hour as Fatai Osho’s men recorded their first victory in four outings.

Alao Dabani set the tone of a fiery contest that climaxed from the early stages with an effort from outside the box within eighty seconds, before failing to score with a backheel and shooting into the side netting later on.

Enyimba gradually marched into the game and Victor Mbaoma saw his attempt tipped onto the crossbar after a soft exchange with Bala.

The hosts were soon rewarded for their push as Reuben Bala’s low freekick from thirty yards went through the hands of the goalkeeper in the thirty-first minute.

Bala could have netted his brace seven minutes later as he wriggled himself through a crowded box and took a pop that bounced off the bar.

For the second game running, Osho rang three changes at the break, this time introducing Hassan Abubakar, Emmanuel Ampiah and Dayo Ojo in what turned to be a smart move as the trio provided the balance needed to match the energetic visitors.

Chances became few and far between as the second half took a combative turn, but Ampiah curled a cross from the right that was only narrowly missed by Mbaoma and Ojo.

In the end, it was a tight fixture that was ultimately defined by perhaps the game’s finest margins.

“THIS WIN WILL LIFT THE SPIRITS OF THE PLAYERS”