Insurance of Benin were too much to handle for Remo Stars when they met at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for their match day four encounter of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season.
The Edo Arsenals eased passed the Blue Stars of Ikenne by three goals to nil in top of the clash fixture on Saturday.
Goals from Imade Osarenkhoe, Sarki Ismael and Austin Agunye sunk the Ogun State based team that have not considered prior to the match.
The home team got into the groove as early as the 5th minute as Osarenkhoe put the ball at the back of the net from a corner taking by Osas Okoro. It was his fourth goal in four matches.
Both sides try to get at each other, but there was no real chance to change the score line for the two sides.
However, Ismael scored his third of the season and Insurance's second in the 25th minute to give the home side a comfortable lead.
Despite in the lead, the Edo team kept to their attacking play even though Remo pushed to reduce the deficit.
In the 45th minute, Remo Stars could have scored after Seun Ogunribide's free kick from the left reached Okon Anekeme who headed home, but Amas Obasogie denied him with a save to keep the score at the end of the first half at 2-0.
At the start of the second half, Coach Ogunmodede brought in Edidiong Ezekiel and Abdulrasheed Awoyemi to add bite to the attack. Remo upped the tempo of the game, but score remained the same.
Seyi Mayi Came in in the 55th minute with good impact, but a resolute defense of Insurance repelled all attack by the away side.
Bendel Insurance Coach on the hand made a double substitution as Jide Williams and Vincent Augustus came in for Ebuka Akobundu and Osas Okoro 6 minutes later.
Seun Odunsi came in for Remo, but it was the home team who threatened at goal minutes later as Divine Nwachukwu drove towards the edge of Remo Stars' box passed to Deputy Echeta who hit a shot at goal, the rebound found Imade, but his chip over Bankole is denied by the crossbar.
Nwachukwu came close to scoring in the 74th minute from a freekick, but his ball his parried away by Bankole 3 minutes after Odigie removed Deputy Echeta and Sarki Ismael for Babatunde Ogungbe and Austin Ogunye.
Ogunye made instant impact as he scored in the 78th minute through a fine back heel pass from Nwachukwu which put beyond Bankole to make it three.
In the 80th minute, Andy Okpe came close to scoring for the away team, but his attempt hit the woodwork.
Insurance held on to get their fourth win of the season to keep their unbeaten run and top spot in group A.
Uche Dozie