MATCH REPORT: RIVERS UNITED 1-1 ENYIMBA

Enyimba recorded an impressive 1-1 draw against hosts Rivers United in an eagerly-anticipated and explosive Matchday 27 Nigeria Premier Football League clash in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

After slightly dominating the early exchanges, the People’s Elephant deservedly took the lead in the 28th minute when Joseph Abiodun – who was playing for the first time in the second stanza of the campaign – reacted fastest to nod home a header from fellow forward Chidera Michael following a well-delivered freekick from left-back Paul Odeh.

Poised to maintain their near-perfect home record, the hosts equalized two minutes before the break, when winger Aniekeme Okon fired in a Timothy Zechariah’s pass from close range after a good work by Wasiu Falolu.

The 2-time African champions started strongly in the second half in a game where they showed great hunger and fighting spirit, and almost got a second goal when former Enyimba defender Stephen Manyo cleared a goal-bound shot from winger Daniel Okere.

Despite a late charge by Rivers United to get a winner, Enyimba defended strongly to secure a share of the spoils against Finidi George’s side.

The result saw the record 9-time Nigerian champions move one place up to 14th on the standings, with 32 points from 27 matches, as the resurgence under new Head Coach Emmanuel Deutsch begins.

Enyimba will next face new boys and relegation-threatened Kun Khalifat FC in Aba on Sunday.