Sporting Lagos’ half-time reset inspires comeback win over Enyimba

Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter said a candid half-time team talk helped inspire his side’s 3-2 comeback victory over Enyimba in Wednesday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match in Aba.

The visitors overturned a two-goal deficit to secure one of the season’s standout results and hand Enyimba their second successive league defeat.

Enyimba looked in control after taking a 2-0 lead in the first half in front of their home supporters. Sporting Lagos, however, produced a markedly improved performance after the interval, showing the character required to turn the match around.

Buter said he challenged his players to raise their level and reminded them that the game remained within their reach.

“It was just for them to be better in the second half because in the first we were really poor. We should’ve scored goals, and I let them understand that the game was still there to be taken,” Buter explained.

“That it is still early for us to correct the mistakes of the first half, and I think we started very well.”

Sporting Lagos still faced another setback after reducing the deficit when a lapse in concentration resulted in what Buter described as a “cheap penalty”. Despite conceding it, his players maintained their composure and continued to pursue the victory.

The visitors eventually scored again to level the match before completing the comeback with the winning goal. Buter was particularly pleased with the way his team remained committed to its approach and managed the game after moving in front.

“Also the mental strength to continue to play, especially the way we did it, finding the second goal and going on to find the winner and controlling the game,” he said.

“I think the half-time team talk really helped us. It was [about] come out and show what you are made of.”

The result gives Sporting Lagos significant momentum in their campaign, while Enyimba’s second consecutive league loss increases the pressure on the struggling side early in the season.