Nigerian Football
Remo Stars beat Enugu Rangers to remain atop of NPFL
Remo Stars retain their top position in the Nigeria Premier League table after beating Enugu Rangers 2-1 in Ikenne on Sunday.
In doing so, they stretched their unbeaten run to four matches. They were almost making it a clean slate but for the penalty kick awarded Enugu Rangers which turned out to be the first goal they conceded this season
In what was a battle of the two top sides of last season, the game lived up to expectations as both sides thrilled the crowd with entertaining football.
After an early exchange of passes, Remo Stars steadily gained control of the match but occasional threats from Enugu Rangers were warded off by Junior Nduka-led defence line thus putting goalkeeper Adebiyi Obassa virtually on holiday for the greater part of the first half.
But Enugu Rangers’ goalkeeper, Lucky Abdullahi was kept busy. But he lived to expectations as he saved many goal opportunities to end the first half at 0-0.
At that point, both Remo Stars and Enugu Rangers remained the only teams not to have conceded any goal so far this season.
But barely five minutes into the second half, former Rivers United player, Alex Oyowah broke the deadlock as he volleyed past Rangers’ goalkeeper who had the task of picking the ball from his net for the first time in four league matches.
The one-goal lead did not last for long. Remo Stars were on the receiving end in the 55th minute when goalkeeper Obassa, tripped a Rangers striker in the box which resulted in a penalty. converted Augustine Agu Kenechukwu calmly converted the spot kick to make Obassa concede his first goal in Nigeria .
Four minutes later, the crowd went into frenzy jubilation as Raymond Tochukwu fired a long-range shot that caught the hitherto agile goalkeeper Lucky Abdullahi unaware.
In the other matches of the day, Rivers United beat Enyimba 2-0 in Port Harcourt.
In Ibadan, Heartland’s woes were compounded after a 1-0 loss to Shooting Stars. El-Kanemi Warriors and Plateau United ended their duel in a 2-2 draw. Also, Niger Tornadoes and Bendel Insurance played a 1-1.
Abia Warriors secured a 2-0 win against Kano Pillars, Bayelsa United and Kwara United settled for a 1-1 draw, and Katsina United secured a 3-0 win against Lobi Stars.
NPFL RESULTS
- Remo Stars 2-1 Enugu Rangers
- Shooting Stars 1-0 Heartland
- El-Kanemi 2-2 Plateau Utd
- Rivers Utd 2-0 Enyimba
- Abia Warriors 2-0 Kano Pillars
- Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Kwara Utd
- Katsina Utd 3-0 Lobi Stars
- Ikorodu City 1-2 Nasarawa Utd
- Akwa Utd 1-2 Sunshine Stars
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
Former Nigerian champions, Enyimba were coasting to a comfortable 3-0 lead before the game got enveloped by darkness.
The game could not be completed after 75 minutes when the floodlights of the arena suddenly went off.
According to a post on Enymba x-handle, the match will resume at 8.00 am on Monday “ as agreed by both teams and the match officials.”
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 1-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
Heartland finally got into winning ways on Sunday after the Owerri side secured a 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes.
The club, under former Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke had gone four matches without a win, finding themselves swimming in the murky waters of relegation.
A brace by Michael Ogu has lifted the club which climbed up to the 16th position. They had begun the season badly losing at home to Enyimba and failing to win any of the subsequent three matches.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 1-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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