SECOND half substitute Olamilekan Adams provided relief for Remo Stars and their fans as his lone goal secured a 1-0 win over Enyimba during their Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 25 game in Ikenne on Wednesday.
Off the back of a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Sporting Lagos in the Southwest Derby on Sunday, Remo needed a win to remain in contention for the title while their visitors also needed to prevent them from toppling them.
Despite the urgency on both sides, it took 27 minutes to see the first real chance of the game and it was the visitors who threatened courtesy of Joseph Atule, whose curling effort from an acute angle inside the box was parried by goalkeeper Kayode Bankole.
Leading top scorer Chijoke Mbaoma also came close for the visitors with a header in the 36th minute before Junior Nduka got one on target for Remo with a free-kick, which was kept out by Ojo Olorunleke, in goal for Enyimba, just before halftime.
Remo’s second half substitute Adams added bite to the hosts’ attack and almost broke the deadlock twice in the space of six minutes. First, he bent a curler narrowly wide in the 54th minute before calling Olorunleke into a near post save with another shot from the same angle in the 64th minute.
There was no denying Adams again, as he got on to the end of a flick-on from fellow substitute Haruna Hadi to latch home Remo’s goal in the 71st minute.
After Sikiru Alimi failed to double the advantage for Remo, Bankole made another save later in the game to preserve their lead and ultimately complete the double over the reigning champions and climb to fourth in the table with 42 points with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, the title chase among the top five teams continued as Lobi Stars maintained their lead with 46 points thanks to a nervy 3-2 win over Rivers United in Lafia.
Nenrot Silas also scored a hat-trick in Plateau United’s 4-0 win over Gombe United as the Jos-based side sit second with 44 points while Enugu Rangers remain in third with 42 points after securing a 1-1 draw against Kano Pillars in Kano.
Akwa United beat Bendel Insurance 3-1 in Uyo as they gradually navigate their way out of the murky relegation waters.
