Enyimba dim Sunshine Stars
.Kwara Utd shock IfeanyiUbah 1-2
.Rangers steal point in Oghara
SUNSHINE Stars were on Wednesday in Aba handed a commanding 3-1 defeat that however failed to pluck them off the top spot in the Glo Premier League Match Day 18 top-of-the-table clash on a day Kwara United revived their campaign with a fantastic 2-1 win away to FC IfeanyiUbah. With Wikki Tourists picking a point off Kano Pillars in Kano, the race to end the season's halfway mark at the top has turned a three horse race with Sunshine Stars, Enyimba International and Wikki Tourists all having 33 points with one game to left to go.
Wikki continued their good form on the road, this time as guests to cup holders, Kano Pillars that took the lead through Isaac Hele Hele who connected a Rabiu Ali cross to nod home on 30th minute. Ali would turn villain when he squandered a penalty award that would have doubled their lead on the dot of halftime. That miss will come to hunt them as Wikki made the most of an opportunity just two minutes into the second half with the equalizer netted by Godwin Obaje after which they took everything thrown at them to share the points.
The Akure Gunners did put up some resistance, keeping Enyimba off their net for all of 35 minutes before enterprising defender; Stephen Eze helped the hosts to break the deadlock. Hero of many Sunshine Stars remarkable wins in Akure, Eze caved in to pressure to slice a cross from worrisome Ezekiel Bassey beyond his goalkeeper. On the half way mark, Nzube Anaezemba made the most of a poor defensive decision at the edge of the Sunshine box to hit home the second goal for Enyimba. Ezekiel would three minutes into the second half complete his terrific play with a goal that came at the end of his solo long bursting run. Tunde Adeniji got his side’s consolatory goal on 90th minute, sending goalkeeper Femi Thomas the wrong way to convert from the penalty spot.
FC IfeanyiUbah fans was looking to another heroic performance by the Anambra Warriors when Maduabuchi Okereke bundled in the opener in a goalmouth scramble on the 8th minute. Coming from their anguish of back to back home defeats to Enyimba and Sharks, the Afonja Warriors knew they must avert another defeat to keep any morsel of hope to compete in the premier division next season. Bobga Sambo completed a twosome header to net the equalizer on 26th minute and five minutes after, Gata Ismail sprung an offside trap to lob over on-rushing goalkeeper Chidi Eze. It was a kill joy for Eze whose fans thronged the stadium waving happy birthday on big cards.
In Kaduna, Ocheme Edoh filled in for suspended striker Shuaib Ibrahim slamming home a rebound to give Giwa an 8th minute lead against Nasarawa United. Three minutes after, Danladi Gyang made it two for the hosts and it looked like Nasarawa were in to take the brunt of the 3-0 thrashing of Giwa in Ibadan last Sunday. It was not to be as Nasarawa afterwards seemed to have found the antidote to the scoring sting, reducing the deficit through Leonard Ugochukwu on the 36th minute. All attempts by both sides to put in another goal were abortive as final score stood at 2-1.
Christian Pyagbara and Yusuf Jaiyeola continued Sharks revival this time at the Civic Center Complex in Port Harcourt where they netted the two goals against Abia Warriors to nudge them another rung up the table but still within the relegation zone. Pyagbara followed up his precious strike in Ilorin with another screamer from the edge that put Sharks in front after 15 minutes. Jaiyeola headed home Madu Chiamaka’s corner on 45 minutes to double the lead and seal their second consecutive three points after a run of 13 matches without a win.
On the other side of Port Harcourt, city neighbors, Dolphins received former Sharks Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote for his first outing in Port Harcourt after parting ways with the Blue Angels. It was a gritty affair that saw Ali Chiwnedu’s penalty goal on 47 minutes separating both sides.
Tony Okpotu’s classy lob over Olufemi Kayode made the difference for Lobi Stars as they claimed all three points against Akwa United while in Katsina, Heartland could not preserve their first half lead off the effort of John Ibe to share the points with hosts El-Kanemi Warriors. The Warriors were headed for another home defeat after Samuel Adetunji fluffed a penalty but Eboh Alilu made good with a header in added time to save his side the blushes.
Culled from www.npfl.ng
RESULTS
IfeanyiUbah 1-2 Kwara Utd
Bayelsa Utd 0-0 Rangers
El-Kanemi 1-1 Heartland
Pillars 1-1 Wikki Tourists
Enyimba 3-1 Sunshine Stars
Sharks 2-0 Abia Warriors
Giwa FC 2-1 Nasarawa Utd
Lobi Stars 1-0 Akwa Utd
Dolphins 1-0 3SC
Nigeria Premier League Table
Teams P GD PTS
1. Sunshine Stars 17 13 33
2. Wikki Tourists 17 9 32
3. Enyimba 17 7 30
4. Heartland 17 6 28
5. Giwa FC 17 4 28
6. Ifeanyi Ubah 17 6 27
7. Abia Warriors 17 1 26
8. Rangers 17 0 26
9. Kano Pillars 17 2 25
10. Warri Wolves15 4 23
11. 3SC 17 3 23
12. Nasarawa Utd17 -2 23
13. El-Kanemi 16 -4 23
14. Akwa Utd 17 -5 21
15. Lobi Stars 17 -7 17
16. Bayelsa Utd 17 -8 17
17. Kwara Utd 16 -7 16
18. Sharks 17 -7 15
19. Dolphin FC 17 -6 14
20. FC Taraba 17 -9 13
