By Daily Sports on May 9, 2016

It was a day of victory for most of the South-East teams yesterday on Match Day 15 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Abia Warriors, Enyimba, Heartland all coasted to victory, with FC Ifeanyi Ubah s the only team from the region to record a loss.

ABIA WARRIORS 1-0 GIWA FC

Giwa FC suffered their sixth defeat in the hands of Abia Warriors on Saturday.

A first-half header from skipper Uche Ihuarulam was enough to secure all three points for the Umuahia-based club, with Giwa still in 19th place.

Giwa got things underway as both teams fought to take quick control of the match, with Abia Warriors marginally dominating early possession.

A swerving volley Stanley Okoro had to be parried wide by goalkeeper Friday Achimugwu in the 7th minute of action.

Despite Warriors doing most of the early pressing, Giwa had a good chance to draw the curtain raiser after 28 minutes as Chinedu Anozie produced a great save from Charles Henlong’s drive.

The away side followed up with another flowing attack that came from the right flank and saw substitute Amos Gyang deliver a wonderful pass to Moses Opitoke whose final ball was brilliantly stopped by Anozie.

Warriors went ahead in the 38th minute as Valentine Nwabili provided the killer pass for the opening goal, splitting Giwa’s defense before delivering the ball to Ihuarulam who headed the ball beyond Achimugwu

Abia Warriors are third on the league table, while Giwa FC are still rooted in the relegation zone.

ENYIMBA 2-1 NIGER TORNADOES 

Ike ThankGod scored the match winner as Enyimba FC defeated Niger Tornadoes FC 2-1 at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday.

Former Rising Stars midfielder Nzube Anaezemba put the seven-time league champions ahead with a strong run and finish.

Before the break, Bolaji Adeyemo fired the Minna based team level.

ThankGod then collected his 3rd League goal of the season to secure victory for the hosts in Umuahia.

HEARTLAND FC 2-1 EL-KANEMI WARRIORS

A late pressure from El-Kanemi Warriors failed to stop Heartland from claiming a 2-1 win at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

Heartland took the lead as early as the 10th minute with Anthony Oussou leading the onslaught.

However, the lead didn’t last up to 60 seconds before Daniel Japhet put the score line at 1-1.

Heartland regained their composure and restored their lead in the 22nd minute with Ogbugh.

The two teams tried as much as possible to score more goals including Chinedu Ohanachom’s header that hit the upright in the game but they couldn’t find a way out.

KANO PILLARS 2-1 IKORODU UNITED

Kano Pillars closed the gap between them and Rangers to one point courtesy of a 1-0 victory against Ikorodu United at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Goals from Emmanuel Edmund and Rabiu Ali proved to be enough for Pillars. Coach Sam Okpodu must have felt disappointed after his side put up a good performance to at least grab a point.

Yemi Olasupo netted for the Lagos based team.

Ikorodu United went behind in the 15th minute when ex-Trencin man Edmund opened the scoring to put the hosts 1-0 up.

Twelve minutes later, the visiting team scored a surprise equaliser through Olasupo’s header. Okpodu’s boys should have silenced the home fans but Moses Ebiye's effort came off the post.

On resumption of the second half, the hosts rose gallantly and attacked the opposition. They launched series of attacks and their reward came in the 75th minute when Ali bagged the match winner.

PLATEAU UNITED 0-0 SUNSHINE STARS

Plateau United failed to build on the momentum of the impressive draw they got against Shooting Stars after they played a drab stalemate with Sunshine Stars.

The Jos based side couldn’t score even with the presence of some of their first team players upfront.

At the blast of the final whistle, Solomon Ogbeide’s charges left Jos with a point thanks to a resolute performance.

AKWA UNITED 2-0 FC IFEANYI UBAH

FC Ifeanyi Ubah were handed their sixth defeat of the season as they crashed 2-0 against Akwa United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday.

The Promise Keepers made home advantage count as they raced into an early lead through Ubong Ekpai.

Ekpai headed the ball home from close range. The away side should have leveled scores but they were let down by poor finishing.

Akwa United, however doubled their lead against the run of play through Friday Ubong.

The Anambra Warriors huffed and puffed to no avail as the game gradually grounded to full time to see them lose their sixth game of the season.

LOBI STARS 1-0 MFM FC

Lobi Stars got the better of visiting MFM FC by one goal to nothing to frustrate the visitors who were 21 minutes away from snatching a draw.

An own goal from Monsuru Bashiru in the 69th minute calmed nerves at the Aper Aku Stadium.

The Pride of Benue created chances and clearly were the better team in the game.

Stars have moved up to fifth, while their visitors MFM are now eighth in the 20-team ladder.

WARRI WOLVES 0-1 RIVERS UNITED

Bernard Ovoke’s second half strike earned Rivers United a 1-0 win over Warri Wolves at the Warri City Stadium.

The hard fought result puts Stanley Eguma’s team in six place on the Nigeria Professional Football League ladder with 25 points from 15 matches.

Up next for Rivers United is a home fixture against Wikki Tourists, while Wolves will be on the road when they face Shooting Stars. Both matches would take place by next weekend.

WIKKI TOURISTS 2-1 NASARAWA UNITED

Godwin Obaje was Wikki Tourists’ hero as his double propelled the team to 4th in the NPFL table following a 2-1 win over Nasarawa United in Bauchi on Sunday.

Obaje opened the scoring in the 45th minute courtesy of a spot kick after Nasarawa United defender Abdulbasit Shittu pulled Idris Guda down in the box.

Eugene Obi restored parity for the Solid Miners as he poked home after a good team move in the 57th minute.

The talented Obaje scored the winner in the 75th minute of the tight battle.

Emenike Onuoha and Ichull Lordson were then sent-off for fighting as the two sides ended the match with ten players each.

•Adapted from a Goal report.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 9, 2016

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