YOBE DESERT STARS 2-0 FC IFEANYIUBAH
Yobe Desert Stars relied on two goals from Philip Auta to deny FC IfeanyiUbah a share of the spoils at the August 27th Stadium, Damaturu on Sunday.
Auta was rested by the Damaturu side that faced Abia Warriors last week. He put them in the driver’s seat in the 13th minute after he stabbed home a rebound from the shot of his teammate, Sadiq Adam.
The former Heartland and Enyimba midfielder made it two in the 79th minute to ensure that the Anambra Warriors were turned back empty-handed. It was Auta’s seventh goal of the season and it has increased Yobe Stars’ points haul to 14 from 16 games.
FC IfeanyiUbah are still in third spot despite the defeat. They have 27 points from 16 matches.
NASARAWA UNITED 5-1 EL KANEMI WARRIORS
Nasarawa United totally annihilated El Kanemi Warriors 5-1 at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday.
It was a barnstorming start for Nasarawa United’s Ibrahim Sunusi at the Lafia Township Stadium after he lit the first half of the encounter with two goals from only three attempts on target from the pacy winger. He got his goals in the first and 30th minutes while Anas Yusuf made it three in the 32nd minute of the game.
The first strike came right from the start of the game when Sunusi received a long ball which he latched onto to blast past an already stranded Modou Jobe in goal for El Kanemi Warriors. He claimed his second goal through a tap in after a mistake from Borno Army’s Ikenna Okafor in the 30th minute. Then the third goal came from Yusuf in the 32nd minute.
The Solid Miners made it four in the 52nd minute as Ndala Isah curled in a wonderful effort from a free kick but El Kanemi Warriors reduced the emphatic deficit in the 65th minute through Sulley Mohammed who tapped into an empty net after a cross from Chinedum Ohanachom.
The home team rubbed it in with the fifth goal in the 88th minute through Yusuf for his own brace. He ensured that Bala Nikyu’s men gave a reality check to the Borno Army and their handler, Mohammed Babaganaru.
El Kanemi Warriors still remain in second position in the NPFL Group B with 28 points from 16 games despite the thrashing in Lafia while Nasarawa United moved to the fourth spot in the league table with 25 points from 16 games
PLATEAU UNITED 3-0 AKWA UNITED
Plateau United have returned to winning ways after they humbled Akwa United 3-0 at the New Jos Road Stadium on Sunday.
Abdu Maikaba’s men knew a lot was at stake in the game and they went straight to business right from the blast of the referee’s whistle. They scored the opening goal through Jesse Akila in the 10th minute after he followed up a shot from his teammate, Salihu which was palmed into his path by Akwa United goalkeeper, Jean Efala.
Bernard Ovoke increased the tally in the 58th minute for the Peace Boys after good work from Oche Odoba and the game ended as a contest in the 78th minute after Amos Gyang finished off nicely from Mike Zaruma’s well-taken corner kick.
The emphatic home win has brightened the Peace Boys chances of surviving the drop at the end of the season as they are now in ninth spot with 19 points from 16 games while Akwa United are still at the top of the NPFL Group B with 28 points from 16 matches.
KANO PILLARS 1-1 GOMBE UNITED
Kano Pillars were held at home for the second time this season after they could only secure a 1-1 draw against Gombe United at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
Gombe United had won the reverse fixture 2-0 in Gombe and Pillars had talked up revenge before the start of hostilities. Their talisman Rabiu Ali missed a penalty in the 15th minute of the first half but he made amends in the second half when he was afforded another chance and scored from 12 yards.
Kano Pillars were awarded a penalty kick in the 14th minute after the referee adjudged that a Gombe United defender handled the ball to obstruct a goal-bound shot by Sai Masu Gida but the visitors’ goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka saved his side from conceding an early goal a minute later after he saved Ali’s spot kick.
Sai Masu Gida took the lead before the end of the first half when they were given another reprieve from the spot, which was converted by Ali, this time in the fifth minute of the first half of injury time. The referee had spotted an infringement in the vital area of the Desert Scorpions. The penalty was Ali’s seventh goal of the season.
Pillars lead didn’t last long as their former player, Adamu Mohammed came back to the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano to hurt them with the equalizing goal in the third minute of the second half off a fine cross from Muhammed Ibrahim.
Ibrahim Musa’s led Pillars have suffered a setback in their resolve to end the season in the top three with the draw they got at home. They are now in the fifth spot in the NPFL Group B with 24 points from 16 matches while Gombe United have gained a massive away point in their determination to still finish the season among the elite division teams. They are in the 11th spot with 18 points from 16 games.
GO ROUND 2-1 HEARTLAND
Go Round have beaten Heartland for the first time in the top flight after they pipped the Naze Millionaires 2-1 at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku on Sunday.
Sadiq Ololade gave the perfect start for the home side when he drew first blood in the first minute of the encounter to the delight of their fans.
Heartland stepped up their game at the start of the second half and they were rewarded with the leveler in the 51st minute through an expertly taken free kick by Uche Oguchi which went past the outstretched hands of Go Round goalkeeper, Godwin Dede.
Go Round did take the lead again in the 77th minute through Adeseun Adelani and they were able to hold onto that advantage until the end of the game.
Willy Udube’s men have moved to the sixth spot in the NPFL Group B with 24 points from 16 games while Heartland slipped to seventh spot with 21 points from 16 matches.
