Rivers United of Port Harcourt consolidated their leadership of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with a 2-1 victory over visiting Heartland of Owerri, while Rangers International of Enugu and Kwara United of Ilorin both drew away from home, megasportsarena.com reports.
Kwara United played out a scoreless draw with Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse, while Rangers got a 1-1 stalemate with Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM) FC in Lagos, as FC Ifeanyiubah of Nnewi also settled for shared points with visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia, who came close to running off with all three points.
Abia Warriors settled for a 1-1 draw, as the Umuahia-based side got their first point of the season, having lost their first four matches and saw their coach, Imama Amapakabo get a three-match ultimatum from the club’s management.
On the other hand, Plateau United of Jos recorded the biggest win of the week with a 3-0 victory over Adamawa United of Yola, while Enyimba of Aba beat Kano Pillars 2-1 and Lobi Stars of Makurdi were 2-1 winners over Dakkada FC of Uyo.
Samuel Mathias gave Lobi the lead after 15 minutes of play during the game in Makurdi, before Christian Ekong drew the visitors level on 71 minutes, but Austin Ogunye then struck home a penalty kick for the match winner in stoppage time.
In the south-east, Pillars failed to earn a share of the spoils in Sunday’s titanic NPFL clash away to Enyimba in Aba, as they lost 2-1 to The People’s Elephant.
Sai Masu Gida were unbeaten going into the matchday 5 tie but their impressive run was halted as Enyimba prevailed in what some call the ‘Nigerian Clasico’
First-half goals from Anayo Iwuala in the 21st minute and another from Gabriel Orok in the 38th minute sealed victory for Fatai Osho’s men even though Fahad Usman scored a sumptuous free-kick for Pillars in the 86th minute.
Enyimba now have three wins in three home games this season and already breathing down the neck of table-toppers Rivers United who in their own game thumped Heartland 3-1 at the Adokiye Amaesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
Goals from Aguda Godwin in the first half and the duo of Enyinnaya Kazie and Malachi Ohawuma in the second half ensured victory for Stanley Eguma’s men on Sunday.
However, the biggest win of the weekend was recorded in Jos, where Plateau United secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Adamawa United, with a brace from Innocent Kingsley sealing the win, after Amos Gyan scored the opening goal and their side climbed to ninth spot on the NPFL log.
All the results: Rivers United 2 Heartland 1, Nasarawa United 1 Katsina United 0, Plateau United 3 Adamawa United 0, Enyimba 2 Kano Pillars 1, Jigawa 0 Kwara United 0, FC Ifeanyiubah 1 Abia Warriors 1, MFM FC 1 Rangers 1, Lobi 2 Dakkada 1, and Sunshine Stars 1 Warri Wolves 0.
