Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title contenders Plateau United dropped points at home for the first time this season when they were held 1-1 by Gombe United in one of six Match Day 34 games decided on Sunday.
Sunday was also a day that continental spot chasers Enyimba FC and Akwa United suffered defeats against teams in the bottom four despite taking the lead in their respective games while Shooting Stars earned a rare point away from home.
In Jos, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Plateau United had all but given up on catching up on runaway leaders Rivers United but they had their dignity of being the only team to have won all home games this season to protect. Andrew Ikefe headed them in front on the hour mark but Flying Eagles star Ibrahim Yahaya levelled for Gombe ten minutes later before Nenrot Silas missed a stoppage time penalty which could have won it for the hosts.
While Plateau remained ten points behind Rivers United, Remo Stars reduced the gap between them and the top two to eight points after a 3-1 win over Lobi Stars which sent them to 3rd, a point above Rangers. Sikiru Alimi, Tolulope Ojo and Samuel
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Anakwe scored the goals for Gbenga Ogunbote’s men with Francis Odinaka Onyirimba temporarily bringing the game to 1-1 in the 57th minute.
In Bauchi, a stoppage time penalty by Idris Guda rescued a point for hosts Wikki Tourists against a disciplined Shooting Stars team at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium. Winger Opeoluwa Olufemi had given Edith Agoye’s men a shock lead in the 53rd minute. The point keeps 3SC in 12th place, just above Abia Warriors who visits Ibadan next weekend.
The Uyo Derby served a four-goal thriller as relegation haunted Dakkada FC came from a goal down to beat their more illustrious city rivals Akwa United 3-1 at the Nest of Champions. Samuel Amadi gave Akwa United the lead in the 39th minute but that lasted for only three minutes as teenage star Dan Etido levelled for Dakkada before second half goals by Aniekan Ekpe and Edidiong Ezekiel completed the turnaround for them.
Bottom placed MFM FC also came from a goal down to beat Enyimba in a game decided at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode. In-form striker Victor Mbaoma gave Enyimba the lead early in the second half but MFM equalised from the penalty spot through Oladayo Alabi who scored against the People’s Elephant for a second successive year. Alabi then turned provider fifteen minutes from time for Nduka David to score the winner for the Church Boys.
In Ilorin, Kwara United beat Sunshine Stars 1-0 in a game that had Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro in attendance. Former Super Eagles star Junior Lokosa headed home Kabiru Balogun’s cross in the 29th minute to account for the only goal of the game.
With four matches left in the season, Rivers United need only a win to seal their title while the fight against relegation becomes tougher as four teams now have 40 points each from 15th placed Niger Tornadoes to 18th placed Heartland FC.
Match Day 35 holds next Saturday and Sunday.
MatchDay 34 Results
Saturday
Abia Warriors 3-2 Kano Pillars
Rangers Int’l 0-0 Rivers United
Heartland 0-0 Katsina United
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Nasarawa United
Sunday
Dakkada FC 3-1 Akwa United
Remo Stars 3-1 Lobi Stars
Kwara United 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Wikki Tourists 1-1 Shooting Stars
Plateau United 1-1 Gombe United
MFM FC 2-1 Enyimba