Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Sunday defeated Kwara United by a lone goal in week three game of the Nigeria Premier Football League 2023 season to punctuate their lead in group A of the abridged League.
Lanky striker Imade Osarenkhoe scored the only goal of the match in the 25th minute of the game to earn his Benin Arsenal side their second away victory and three wins in three outings to amass nine points and remain leaders of group A.
Imade was well positioned to head home the only goal of the match from right back Ebuka Akobundu”s assist.
Imade Osarenkhoe has become a potent match winning instrument in the Monday Odigie tutored Insurance FC since the commencement of the current season in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on the 8th of January when he scored the first goal of the season in the 39th minute against their hosts Akwa Utd who eventually lost at home to Insurance by 2-0.
The top striker went ahead to score the winning goal against Plateau Utd in the week two game of the season in Benin after the visiting Plateau had cancelled Sarki Ismael’s 52nd minute lead goal in the 90th minute of the encounter.
Imade would have made it 2-0 against the Harmony Boys in the 54th minute of the game when he received a clean pass from mercurial Deputy Echeta who initiated a counter attack after getting a pass from Emiloju and dribbled past three defenders to release a pull out from the left flank which Imade shot off target.
Insurance have now compounded the woes of Kwara United who have not won any game home or away this season after three engagements.
The reigning NNL champions and promoted Bendel Insurance FC who defeated former NPFL champions Akwa United and Plateau United in their first two outings this season are the only team with a hundred percent win record, with 9 points from three games and five goals with just a goal against in the current season.
However, Kwara Utd who are playing away from home did not allow Insurance to go away with the away victory with ease as they mounted pressure on the visitors in the last thirty minutes in search of an equalizer but the efforts of the harmony boys to level up proved abortive as the Sunday Anyanwu, Julius Emiloju, Benjamin Tanimu and Sodje Stephens defence network remained too solid for the hosts to break. The inclusion of Jide Williams in Insurance defence made it more difficult for the Harmony boys to penetrate.
The Bendel Insurance FC now have old foes Remo Stars as their next opponents on Saturday in Benin in the week four fixtures.
Meanwhile, Remo Stars host Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan in Ikene in the battle of Stars to complete week three fixtures on Wednesday.
Speaking with Sports journalists in a post match interview, Coach Monday Odigie of Bendel Insurance said that he will not be carried away with the euphoria of victories in the last three matches, noting that efforts will be sustained to maintain the tempo.
He added that his team is still work in progress while thanking God for the game luck his side has been enjoying with some hardwork. He gave kudos to his boys for remaining disciplined in defending the only goal that separated them from their hosts.
