Odey brace levels Plateau Utd

Stephen Odey scored twice as the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club won the top-of-the-table clash against visiting Plateau United 2-1, at theAgege Stadium in Lagos on Sunday.

The brace gave Odey his ninth and tenth goal of the season. He scored in the in the 47th minute and a penalty in the 88th minute

The visitors had come with an articulate approach to keep control of the game with their highly experienced defenders led by Golbe Elisha stopping all incursions from the Olukoya Boys and it seemed there would be no breakthrough before the break. But in added time of the first half, Odey peeled off his markers, received Sikiru Olatunbosun’s pass and with two touches guided the ball past John Gaadi.

With MFM leading into the break, Plateau returned in the second half with a different game plan which saw them take the battle to the hosts with Mafeng Pam, Joshua Obaje and Ibeh Johnson combining well with substitute Peter Eneji who fired in the equalise in the 62nd minute to even scores.

Rattled by the Plateau United’s goal, MFM dug deep to put their opponents on their toes as playmaker Onuwa Chukwuka kept producing splitting passes for Sikiru Olatunbosun and Stephen Odey to make runs.

The strategy coupled with the dribble runs and pace of the MFM attackers put the Plateau defence line to question and MFM found answer in the 87th minute when Onuwa’s pass put Sikiru Olatunbosun through on goal but he was brought down as he collected and made to shoot. The referee awarded a penalty afterwards.

Odey stepped forward to execute the resulting penalty which he struck hard to the right angle of the net sending Gaadi the wrong way to produce the winner.

MFM coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, while hailing his boys also praised Plateau as a very good team.

He said, “We have a good team and we fought to the last to earn maximum points but Plateau United showed they are a good team with a good coach and they deserve to be where they are.”

In Nnewi, IfeanyiUbah defeated El Kanemi 3-2. A brace from Prince Aggreh and a late penalty from Ifeanyi Onuigbo sealed the win for IfeanyiUbah. Lucky Erimaya and Ibrahim Babangida were on target for El-Kanemi.

At the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano Pillars beat Gombe United 2-0.

Match Day 14 results

ABS 1 – 1 Enyimba

MFM FC 2 – 1 Plateau United

Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Gombe United

Shooting Stars 0 – 0 Abia Warriors

Lobi Stars 0 – 0 Nasarawa United

IfeanyiUbah 3 – 2 El Kanemi Warriors

Niger Tornadoes 1 – 0 Akwa United

Wikki Tourists 2 – 1 Katsina United