Enyimba FC PLAYERS

Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin on Sunday defeated visiting Enyimba International FC of Aba 3-2 to record their first win of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Group A week 3 match in the abridged 2018/2019 NPFL season was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

Segun Alebiosu scored a brace in the match, with Kwara United coming from behind twice to level the scores.

Ibrahim Mustapha broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, through a volley which caught the host goalkeeper off guard, after receiving a pass from Jean-Marie Guera.

Kwara United drew level in the 31^st minute after a clinical finish by Segun Alebiosu who dribbled past Enyimba defenders to round the goalkeeper before scoring with a low shot.

Kwara United responded to the half-time team talk better than the visitors in the second half, with the determination to pick the maximum points.

In the 55^th minute, Kwara United’s zeal to take the lead was cut short when one of its defenders was adjudged to have hacked Guera in the penalty box.

Joseph Osadiaye was on hand to make it 2-1 for Enyimba from the penalty kick spot.

Alebiosu got his second goal of the game to make it 2-2 in the 61st minute.

Substitute Mohammed Usman got the winning goal for Kwara United with a header off a cross from Uche Onwuasonaya in the 73rd minute.

Kwara United have now garnered four points from a possible nine.

They are away to newcomers Insurance FC of Benin in Week Four on Wednesday and Lobi Stars in Makurdi in Week Five at the weekend.

Alebiosu, who lost a penalty kick in the first match and scored an own goal against MFM FC of Lagos on Match Day 2, later said he was delighted to come back to scoring ways.

“I pledge to continue to score, to justify the belief the team has in me,’’ he said.

Earlier at the same venue, Plateau United FC of Jos defeated visiting El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 2-0 in a Group B match of the NPFL.

Saeed Jibrin benefited from a defensive blunder to put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute, while Bernard Ovoke scored the second goal to seal victory for the hosts.

Plateau United were ordered to play their home league matches in Ilorin after they fell foul of the NPFL rules during their Match Day 1 fixture against FC IfeanyiUbah in Jos on Jan. 13.

They are to play their next two home games in Ilorin.