Captain Nduka Junior was on a day-saving attitude as he rescued Remo Stars from the jaws of defeat against Enyimba in an enthralling encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in the opening match of the Nigerian Premier League Championship Playoffs, on Saturday.

Enyimba took the lead on the hour mark through Adiele Eriugo even as Remo Stars bossed possession.

Only seventeen minutes later, Andy Okpe was taken off to be replaced by Junior Lokosa who would prove to be the X-factor.

Lokosa, in a matter of seconds after coming on, with only his second touch of the game, scored the leveler from a tap in.

Remo Stars would have been hoping to build on the inspired substitution, Lokosa, who had turned the game in the favour of Remo Stars, but they would not even celebrate for long before Enyimba launched a counter attack and had a man brought down.

Though it appeared the foul happened just outside of the box, but the centre referee would not flinch after he confirmed the decision from his assistant.

Emeka Obioma, the leading goalscorer in the league stepped up to take the penalty, and he sent Kayode Bankole the wrong way, stroking home the penalty.

The goal must have annoyed the eggheads as not only was the action between both managers; Finidi George and Daniel Ogunmodede, but Remo Stars Chairman Kunle Soname laid bare his emotions from the VIP box as well.

The reaction, however, happened on the pitch of play as Remo Stars came roaring back piling on the pressure on Enyimba to force something out of the match.

Their hard work would eventually pay off though, as they had a last minute free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box, and their rock at the back, captain Nduka Junior, stepped up, his curler found the back of the net.

Not long after the action, tension eased in the VIP box too and both teams went settled for a share of the spoils, with an entertaining start to the playoffs.