Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin temporarily halted the title bid of ambitious Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi with a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday.
The defeat to the Benin Arsenals during the Match Day 11 fixtures of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) marked Lobi Stars' third loss of the season.
The Monday Osagie-tutored side's substitute, Osaghae Jr, scored the only goal of the match in the 95th minute, ending their goal drought and securing a 1-0 victory for the Benin Arsenals.
Bendel Insurance seemed destined for another draw as the six minutes of extra time added by the match officials were running out. However, Osaghae’s 95th-minute strike pierced through the net, breaking the heart of Lobi Stars' goalkeeper, Lucky Abdullahi.
In their last three games before Match Day 11 against Lobi Stars, Insurance FC managed a 2-2 draw with Kwara Utd in Benin, a 0-0 draw at Kano Pillars, and a 2-1 loss to Enyimba FC in Aba.
The 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars has propelled the Benin Arsenals into the fifth position on the league table with 17 points, four points behind the new leaders, Doma Utd, who defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0 to surpass Lobi Stars.
Insurance will now shift their focus to their midweek tie against Heartland FC of Owerri on Wednesday.
Bendel Insurance FC coach Monday Odigie expressed his happiness at his team's victory.
“I am happy that we won. I am happy for the scorer Osaghae Jr, and I am happy for the team for being able to push for the winning goal. I also want to appreciate the boys.
"We want to keep pushing to improve in every game. We will keep working and see how it goes till the end."
Meanwhile, the match-winner for Bendel Insurance FC, Osaghae Jr, was voted Man of the Match and received the award sponsored by Comrade Festus Alenkhe, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo state.
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