Sporting Lagos made a winning start to life in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a 2-1 defeat of Gombe United at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Monday.
Avenwenre Rivio scored the Sporting Lagos’ first goal in the 43th minute to give the host a lead.
The visitors almost fought back immediately, stepping up their game to challenge the hosts. But despite the United’s threatening and pushing for equalizer, the goal sheet remained the same as Chiemeka Nwokeji, Aliu Salawudeen, Onyeka Ojieh and Patrick Egeonu combined well to ensure that no goal went past Agbor Ekoi.
Gombe United had the opportunity to get a consolation goal and showed flashes of brilliance with their attacking squad mounting pressure on the defence of the home team. The defender and captain, Egeonu, out of exuberance tried to hold on to the ball but he was beaten by Gombe player, who passed the ball in the box 18 to his team mate, who was brought down, resulting into a penalty kick.
Speaking after the match, Sporting Lagos head coach, Paul Offor, said he was full of joy at the outcome of the match as it was a very good start for his team in their historic match at the NPFL.
“The fact that we dominated the first half of the match was very good for us. That was what we wanted to do and for our confidence going into the season, so we are very happy for the three points,” Offor said.
Chairman of Sporting Lagos FC, Godwin Enakhena, noted that he was thrilled to see his team triumph in their first match in the NPFL season.