NPFL: Echeta’s brace down Enyimba in Port Harcourt

Share

By: Abiodun Adewale

Rivers United forward Deputy Echeta bagged a brace, scoring one goal in each half as the Pride of Rivers got a 2-0 victory over defending champions Enyimba in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier League match-day 14 game at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The former Bendel Insurance striker gave Stanley Eguma’s side the lead inside 12 minutes and doubled the advantage immediately after the restart to ensure Rivers United amassed points from another outstanding game.

With two outstanding matches left against Doma United and Sporting Lagos, the Port Harcourt side are now 11th in the table with 24 points from 17 matches, 12 points away from the top spot.

“The game was explosive as expected and we got our early goal because of the high intensity we adopted. It paid off and the second goal came in too. We also had more chances while Enyimba did well but I’m not surprised we won because we were the better side,” Rivers United coach, Eguma, said after the game.

Meanwhile, Enyimba, who have been on the ascendancy recently are now fifth in the table with 32 points from 19 matches.

Their stand-in coach, Yemi Olanrewaju is optimistic they will continue to weather the storm in the absence of head coach George Finidi, who is on international duty with Nigeria as an assistant coach at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

“We were careless to have conceded those two goals. But for me congratulations to Rivers United, it was a good game. They took their chances. We also hit the bar and we need to improve on scoring. When we don’t create chances, I feel uncomfortable, but when we do and we don’t score, I know that we have to work on that,” he said.