NPFL Match Day 11 Review: Heartland, 3SC record huge wins as Abia edge Sunshine in thriller

The Nigeria Premier Football League got back underway for match day eleven as nine games were played in different stadia across the country.

There were big victories for the likes of Heartland and Shooting Stars while Rangers were humiliated at Kwara United. Giwa returned to the top of the table after a convincing win over Ifeanyi Ubah FC.

Giwa FC 2 – 0 Ifeanyi Ubah

Giwa FC showed that only a change in
name can’t bring you success by rolling Ifeanyi Ubah FC, that had just
acquired Gabros FC, in mud condemning the visitors to a 2 – 0 defeat.

Charles Henlong outfoxed the Anambra side’s high line of defence before
rounding their keeper to score in the 23rd minute. Ocheme Edoh slammed
home from a rebound shortly after the restart to seal the win for the
hosts.

Dolphins 1-1 Sharks

It was a case of no victor no vanquished as both sides shared the spoils in an highly anticipated derby in Port Harcourt.

Sharks got the opener six minutes into the second half through Yusuf
Jaiyeola and were almost hugging an unlikely win until Dolphins pegged
them back courtesy of a goal from their Ghanaian import Godbless Asamoah
with just six minutes of regulation time left.‪

Heartland 4-1 Bayelsa United

Bayelsa United were nothing but fresh lunch for the homers as the Owerri giants made light work of the boys from Yenagoa.

Saibou Badarou put the hosts ahead in the 9th minute of an entertaining
encounter, before Bright Ejike (double), and Julius Ubido lavished
gloss on the scoreline. Despite the visitors pulling a goal back, there
was nothing denying Heartland a convincing win.

Shooting Stars 3-0 Lobi Stars

Lobi were cooked, peppered and turned over in Ibadan as the Oluyole
Warriors ran out three nil winners in a thrilling one-sided affair.

A
superb brace by Dream Team 6 striker, Junior Ajayi complemented an
early goal from Ibrahim Ajani as the visitors defence fell apart in the
face of the home team’s ceaseless wave of attack.

Nasarawa 1 – 0 Akwa United

Nasarawa continued their decent home run, ensuring Akwa United left for home empty handed.
A sixth minute Ibrahim Ibrahim header was all Nasarawa needed to gun down Akwa United in Lafia.

Abia Warriors 3-2 Sunshine Stars

In
a match that’s likely to be a contender for best game of the season,
Abia Warriors waited until the last kick of the game to get the better
of Sunshine Stars.

It was action packed from the first to the last second of the encounter.

Bolaji Sakin scored first for the Warriors from the spot. Dele
Olorundare then levelled the score minutes later. Chisom Chikatara
restored the home side’s lead but it didn’t last long as Tunde Adeniji
punished a defensive error to make it 2-2.

Abia Warriors would have
the last laugh however as Chisom Chikatara claimed his double and his
team’s third from yet another penalty kick awarded deep into injury
time.

Kwara Utd 3-1 Rangers

Kwara United prepared pig shit
and shoved it down the throat of Enugu Rangers as the Flying Antelopes
endured a humiliating evening in Ilorin.

Dare Ojo’s screamer from 35
yards in the 6th minute set the tone of what was to come. Before
further strikes from Oladapo and Emmanuel Amungwa ensured Rasaq
Adegbite’s goal for Rangers was nothing more than mere consolation.

El-Kanemi 2-1 FC Taraba.

The Borno Warriors came from a goal down to blow away the gallant resistance of the club from Jalingo.

Bobby
Abel got the opener for the visitors but Ibrahim Mustapha’s brace, the
first from the spot, completed the turn-around for the home team,
ensuring that Taraba continued their poor run.

Enyimba could only manage a goalless away draw at Wikki Tourist in Bauchi.
The match involving Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars at the Warri City Stadium was however postponed till Monday by 4pm