Super 4: Flying Eagles Thrash 9-Man Dolphins, Wins Super 4

Taiwo Awoniyi, Bernard Bulbwa and Chidera Eze were among the goals for Nigeria Under-21 side in a 4-1 win over 9-man Dolphins in Abuja on Friday.

The Flying Eagles are unbeaten after four rounds of matches and top the 2015 Glo Premier League Super 4 standings by an unassailable 12 points. Dolphins are winless in the pre-season tournament having lost to Kano Pillars, Dream Team VI and Enyimba.

A frustrated Dolphins side ended the match with ten men, with captain Victor Ezuruike and Tijjani Adamu getting their marching orders in the space of two minutes. Ezuruike was sent off for a second bookable offence after upending Obinna Nwobodo while Adamu received a straight red card for a malicious tackle on midfielder Akinjide Idowu.

The win also means the Eagles are winners of this year’s Super 4 with a game to spare.

The coach Manu Garba side pulled ahead on 24 minutes, when Nwobodo squared a lovely pass to Awoniyi inside the box and the striker tucked in his right-footed shot from six yards.

A Jonathan Zikiye own goal doubled the Eagles’ advantage after Bulbwa’s shot was smothered by Dolphins goalkeeper Adejare Adeniyi, only for the defender to turn in Ezuruike’s clearance.

Bulbwa ensured there was no way back for the Glo Premier League side when he slotted home the Under-20 team’s third 4 minutes after the break.

Second-half substitute Christian Pyagbara pulled one back for Dolphins three minutes later, beating his marker before sending a right-footed shot past Olorunleke Ojo into the top corner.

Eze completed scores, after Musa Yahaya’s effort came off the upright, from Nwobodo’s through pass.