Match report: Katsina United 3-1 Enyimba

Enyimba were made to pay for some inexcusable defending as Katsina United made the best of their first half chances to run out as 3-1 winners on Sunday evening.

The People’s Elephant were looking to build on the win against Adamawa United in midweek to push up on the standings but

were ultimately undone by loose marking in crucial areas and the hosts readily pounced to bag three goals before the break.

With midfield duels and very little goalmouth action characterising the opening exchanges, Samuel Kalu, almost out of nothing gave the hosts the lead in the eighteenth minute when his unstoppable strike from outside the box found its way into the top right.

Enyimba had their first real opening after the half-hour, Emmanuel Ampiah chiselling his way from the left, only to see his final ball towards Victor Mbaoma cleared away. Yet, it was the hosts that got the next goal as Rasheed Ahmed reacted quickest to redirect Usman Bara’u’s effort into the net in the 39th minute.

The hosts added further cushion to their lead just before the break as first half substitute Mahmud Abdulwasiu capitalised on sloppy defending to send in a low drive.

Anayo Iwuala tried to haul Enyimba back into it six minutes after the restart when he caught the keeper off his line and delivered an superb chip from forty yards out.

Within two goals of a come back, Anayo continued to constitute an attacking threat, and from one of his incursions, Cyril Olisema struck a little over the top.

Bilal Yakubu had the chance to bring hope to Enyimba’s fight late on, but the right back could not put enough power into his close range header as goalkeeper Yusuf Mohammed gathered easily.

The result marks the first time that Enyimba have conceded three goals in the NPFL under Fatai Osho, and the People’s Elephant would seek to turn it around when they host Rangers in a rescheduled fixture on Thursday.