By Daily Sports on January 23, 2017

Enugu Rangers grabbed their first victory of the season hitting visiting El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

The Flying Antelopes went into the tie with just a point in the kitty after losing 2-1 to Abia Warriors and pulling a 1-1 draw against Nasarawa United in Lafia.

Bobby Clement bagged the only goal of the clash seven minutes after the hour mark.

Kastina United 1-0 Nasarawa United

It was victory song galore for Katsina United following their 1-0 win against Nasarawa United in the Northern Derby.

Katsina who went into the match fresh from a 2-0 loss to Abia Warriors appeared determined from the first minute to taste victory.

Substitute Suleman Musa broke the deadlock for the Bala Nikyu managed team ten minutes from time.

The remaining 10 minutes was a ding-dong affair full of fireworks but with no more goal in sight for either side.

Plateau United 3-1 Sunshine Stars

NPFL leaders, Plateau United showed superb form and defeated Sunshine Stars 3-1 at the Rwang Pam Stadium.

The match kicked off on a low tempo as both teams took time to settle down. It picked up its tempo as the home team, Plateau United with strings of passes made attempts on goal but they were all futile.

The visitors came back into the game with rugged man Ayo Saka winning balls in the middle of the park.

Saka was then sent off on the half hour and the Peace Boys opened up space at the defence line of the Owena Whales.

Benjamin Turba beat the offside trap to net the opener late in the first half.

The second half saw an improved Plateau United who clicked with every touch of the ball and unfolded an impressive script that left their home fans even cheering more and chanting louder.

Kabiru Umar was on song twelve minutes into the second stanza.

Ten-man Sunshine Stars tracked back to defend but that were short-lived as Plateau raced forward with more attacking brilliance and style of play that blew the visitors away.

Emeka Umeh made it 3-0 in the 80th minute, while winger Alaba Adeniyi scored a face saving goal for Sunshine Stars at injury time.

MFM FC 4-0 Lobi Stars

Stephen Odey scored a hat-trick as MFM FC walloped Lobi Stars 4-0 in the week three of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Agege Stadium on Sunday.

Any early nerves were soon put to bed, though, as a much-changed MFM team took the lead after 27 minutes, as Odey stole in to glance the ball home.

13 minutes into the second half, the homers were 2-0 up. Adegboyega Adekunle slipped the ball to Odey who finished beyond John Lawrence.

Substitute Tchato Giscard's trickery made him a danger and he showed tenacity with a thunderous effort for the third goal of the game.

Odey was oozing confidence. He completed his heroic display with a treble for himself.

It was a sublime bit of skill that drew deserved applause from the crowd at the Soccer Temple.

The dangerous Odey earned a standing ovation when he came off soon after.

ABS FC 1-0 FC Ifeanyi Ubah

ABS FC endured a late pressure from FC Ifeanyi Ubah to win 1-0 at the Kwara Stadium Complex.

Chigozirim Metu fired the Saraki Boys into the lead in the 17th minute.

Adeshina Issa Gata was the hero for Henry Makinwa's side. His low cross to Metu was blocked by Valentine Nwabili six minutes into the game.

Former Arab Contactors midfielder Stone Evbuomwan spotted the mazy run of Gata and put him through but the youngster failed to score.

At the other end, ABS shot-stopper Soliu Dogo produced a fantastic save to deny striker Yaya Kone from point-blank range.

The Gata inspired ABS had better goal-scoring chances and they managed to convert one in the 17th minute after the Anambra Warriors' defence were caught out of position.

Gata beat two defenders and fired the ball which came off the post. Metu scored from the rebound to make it 1-0 to ABS much to the delight of the Kwara crowd.

It was nearly 1-1 on the half-hour mark when Kone whipped a fine free kick to the waiting arms of the inspired Dogo.

Just before the break, Gata created some space and forced Ikechukwu Ezenwa into a decent save.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah did try to push for the equalizing goal, but ABS FC contained them until the match referee blew the half-time whistle and the home side were leading 1-0 during the break.

Rivers United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes

Niger Tornadoes' poor run in the 2017 season continued as they failed to get past title favourites Rivers United at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.

Rivers United won 1-0 against the Ikon Allah Boys in Port Harcourt.

The solitary goal of the tie came from the boot of Ivory Coast import Guy Kuemian in the 17 minute.

The match started on a low note as both sides looked keen to play cautiously.

Coach Stanley Eguma's side looked the better of the two, dictating play from all angles, and it was Lukman Mohammed who delivered a cross to the path of Kuemian, who buried the ball into the back of the net.

After the break, it was Tornadoes, who looked more dangerous, pressurizing their hosts and pinning them in their own half.

The Pride of Rivers had chances to increase the tally too.

The fate of Tornadoes had already been sealed as the match ended 1-0 in favour of Rivers United.

Enyimba FC 2-0 Gombe United

Gombe United's patchy form on the road continued as they were handed a 2-0 beating at the UJ Eugene Stadium by Enyimba FC.

Two goals in the second half handed the People's Elephants all three points in Calabar.

Mustapha Ibrahim dispatched the first goal for Enyimba in the 66th minute.

Mfon Udoh decided the game for the visitors when he converted a spot kick.

Kano Pillars 2-1 Shooting Stars

Despite going one goal up early in the game, Shooting Stars failed to hang on and lost 2-1 to home side, Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The Oluyole Warriors showed early promise, taking the game to Masu Gida.

Jide Apena's crossed to Adigun Adewale in the box. The latter produced the perfect touch past goalkeeper Isa Danladi to silence the previously vocal Kano crowd in the 43rd minute.

The second half saw the former league champions seizing the initiative, forcing back the Oluyole Warriors to their own half and the sustained pressing yielded the desired equaliser in the 48th minute by Adamu Mohammed.

Pillars continued to raid Shooting Stars' and Gombe Mohammed bundled home the winning goal from a scramble in the box at injury time.

Wikki Tourists 1-0 Akwa United

Wikki Tourists left it late to claim a slim 1-0 win over visiting Akwa United at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

Central midfielder Harrison Madu struck the winner in the 84th minute for the under-performing side to fire them to a crucial victory.

Neither of the sides failed to make use of the avalanche of chances created within the exchanges but Madu struck late in the game to win the tie for the Giant Elephants.

Remo Stars 1-0 Abia Warriors

Victor Mbaoma scored a dramatic late winner for Remo Stars in their 1-0 win over Abia Warriors to hop out of the relegation trap net.

The Sky Blue Stars' skipper emerged the hero after netting from the penalty spot to give the home side the winner in injury-time.

Stars had to sweat profusely for the win after the Ochendo Babes put up a solid defensive display at the Gateway International Stadium.

Goalkeeper Agbor Ekoi stood between Remo Stars and avalanche of goals after pulling several world class saves.

Remo Stars will feel extremely relieved as they moved out of the relegation zone ahead of their next game away to Nasarawa United. (goal.com)

•Photo shows Enugu Rangers

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 23, 2017

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