Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Sunday recorded their biggest victory of the season as they thrashed their visitors Doma United FC of Gombe 4-0 in the Matchday 26 of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in Benin City.
Enaruna Michael opened the scoring for the Benin Arsenals in the 28th minute of play.
He nearly converted a freekick from about 20 yards to the goal mouth following a foul on Zaidu Ayuba by Doma’s defender.
Divine Nwachukwu increased the tally in the 42nd minute after pouncing on a loose ball with Chisom Okereke’s assist inside the visitors’ box.
The Benin Arsenals, who came into the game hungry for maximum points after a disappointing 3-1 loss at Akwa Utd in the Matchday 25 encounter, went into the changing room with confidence.
On return from the halftime break, the visitors however came out of their shells, looking good in their attack but Sunday Anyanwu, Ogbonda Evans, Hussaini Abdullahi, and Ebuka Akonbudu did not have any tough time curtailing them.
Insurance’s youngest goalkeeper Joshua Baba was excellent in goal on his debut for the senior team after his promotion from the Feeders a year ago.
Coach Greg Ikhenoba made the first substitution in the 59th minute of play, introducing Stephen Wisdom and Dede Moughara in places of injured Divine Nwachukwu and Zaidu Ayuba. The effects of the changes were evident in the confidence that came in as they continued to be assertive.
Not still satisfied, Coach Greg Ikhenoba in the 80th minute brought in Vincent Okereke, Osaghae Junior, and Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi for Sarki Ismael, Chisom Okereke, and Enaruna Michaels respectively to boost his attack.
Coach Greg Ikhenoba’s tactical switches and substitutions paid off almost immediately as the visitors could no longer contend with the firepower of young Vincent Okeke and Osaghae Jr.
In the 90th minute, Osaghae found Meyiwa’s line-breaking pass from the right flank and finished the job, to make it 3-0 for his side.
As time was drifting away to the end of the five extra minutes, Vincent Okeke who also made his debut for the Benin Arsenals roared past the block posed by the visiting Doma and made it easy for Osaghae Junior who calmly secured his brace two minutes to the final whistle.
Recall that Insurance ended the first round encounter with Domain Utd on a goalless note in Gombe state. The Benin Arsenals will be guests to Femo stars in the Matchday 27 fixtures on Sunday.
