Mfon Udoh produced three perfect moments as he helped two-African champions, Enyimba, to a 3-0 win over Tunisian side, Etoile Sportive du Sahel, in the Caf Champions League in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The striker scored on 10, 57 and 80 minutes to hand the Peoples Elephant a healthy advantage ahead of the second leg of the second round of Africa’s biggest club competition.
Enyimba head coach, Paul Aigbogun, put out an attacking side with five-offensive-minded players in Udoh, Abu Azeez, Joseph Osadiaye, Christian Pyagbara and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu.
Three minutes into the game, Udoh should have put the Nigerian side ahead but fluffed his opportunity as Etoile played deep.
Osadiaye was already turning himself to a pain in the neck for the Etoile defence with his mazy runs and deservedly got himself a spot kick when he was upended in the eighth minute.
Udoh stepped up and scored his fifth goal in the Caf Champions League.
On the quarter of an hour, Pyagbara’s attempt from close range was scrambled away by Etoile goalkeeper Aymen Balbouli to keep his side in the contest.
The Peoples Elephant were certainly in the mood for this game and created chances before the break. Pyagbara, Udoh and Ifeanyi Anaemena came close to doubling Enyimba’s lead.
It took 12 minutes into the restart for Enyimba to score a second goal of the game albeit happening by chance. Dare Ojo’s shot from range came off the foot of Udoh who claimed his brace for the day.
Enyimba had Etoile with their backs pinned to the wall but Azeez and Ojo failed to make it three-nil.
Sixteen minutes to the end, Etoile were reduced to 10 men. Ghazi Abderazek was sent off for a second bookable offence and four minutes later Udoh completed his hat-trick.
The victory now means that Etoile do have a mountain to climb if they intend to reach the group stage of the Champions League at the expense of Enyimba.
Culled from www.supersport.com
COMMENTS