NPFL: Osaghae’s Late Strike  Deems Lobi in Benin as Insurance Climb

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, yesterday defeated league table toppers Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in one of the Match-day 11 fixtures of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Substitute Osaghae Jr scored the only goal of the match in the  95th minute to end their goal drought and sealed a 1-0 victory for the Benin Arsenal over Lobi Stars of Makurdi 

The match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin looked condemned to another stalemate after the six minutes extra time added by the match officials was drifting away before Osaghae’s 95th minute strike braced through the net, breaking the heart of Lobi Stars goalkeeper Lucky Abdullahi.

In their last three games before Match Day 11 against Lobi Stars,,Insurance FC managed to get a 2-2 draw with Kwara Utd in Benin;0-0 draw at Kano Pillars and  lost 2-1 to Enyimba FC in Aba.

The 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars has pushed the Benin Arsenal into the fifth position on the league table with 17 points,four points behind leaders Doma Utd who pipped Niger Tornadoes  1-0 to overtake Lobi Stars.

Insurance will now be shifting their focus on their midweek tie against Heartland FC of Owerri on Wednesday.

In a post match interview, Insurance FC coach Monday Odigie said he was happy that his team won the match at last. “I am happy that we won. I am happy for the scorer Osaghae Jr and I am happy for the team for being able to push for the winning goal  I want to also appreciate the boys. We want to keep pushing to improve in every game. We will keep working and see how it goes till the end “

Meanwhile, the match winner for Bendel Insurance FC Osaghae Jr was voted Man of the Match and received the award sponsored by Comrade Festus Alenkhe, chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State.

RESULTS 

Doma Utd 1-0 Tornadoes

Akwa Utd 1-1 Kwara Utd 

B’Insurance 1-0 Lobi 

Enyimba 1-0 Sunshine