Actions resumed in the Nigeria Professional Football League on Sunday as match day 2 games were played at various stadiums across the country with only three of the eight matches witnessing wins.
Enyimba International and Rangers FC returned to domestic actions for the first time in this campaign after continental assignments kept them away on match day 1, on a remarkable day that saw two away victories recorded.
Plateau United and Wikki Tourists showed their early season title credentials by claiming impressive away wins at tough grounds as the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) kicked into the second gear. Lobi Stars, however, secured the only home win of the day, Soccernet.ng reports.
Former champions Plateau United humbled Jigawa Stars in the presence of the Dutse fans with a 1-0 away win to sit pretty atop the league table with six points out of six.
Nenrot Silas first half strike, bundled in just past the half hour mark following a mixup in the hosts defence, helped the Jos giants see off their hosts.
MFM failed to make their home advantage count as the Lagos-based outfit had to recover from a goal down to earn the share of the spoils with visiting FC Ifeanyi Ubah at the Agege Stadium.
Christian Nnaji got the visitors in front with a sixth minute opener but MFM’s Adeniji Kabir restored parity just before the break and there was to be no second half breakthrough for either of the teams as the final scores stood at 1-1.
Wikki Tourists bagged the second away victory of the day in Lafia where a late strike by the visitors condemned the homers Nasarawa United to a narrow loss.
The Bauchi lords will have forward Sixtus Forsah to thank for scoring the winning goal 10 minutes from time.
Lobi Stars enjoyed a weekend to remember by smashing four undiluted goals past Delta Force at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
Samuel Tiza, Sikiru Alimi, Abdulkareem Mumini and Douglas Achiv were all on the score sheet as Lobi thrashed the newcomers 4-0 in front of a boisterous home fans.
Since joining the NPFL last season, Delta Force have now conceded 4+ goals each in three NPFL matches. No NPFL side have conceded 4+ goals in more than one match in the same period. Whipping. #LOBDEL #NPFL20
— Opta Nigeria (@OptaNGR) November 10, 2019
Defending champions and seven-time NPFL winners, Enyimba held Katsina United to a 1-1 draw at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Sunday.
Katsina United started brightly and were in front after just three minutes after Tasiu Lawal converted from the penalty spot. But Enyimba, fresh from a delightful away win at Galaxy FC in South Africa, wrestled the initiative from the home side and was back on leveled terms just before the break thanks to a Martins Usule equalizer.
Katsina United's Tasiu Lawal scored the only goal conceded
by Enyimba FC from the penalty spot last season. He converted from the spot today against the defending champions. Inescapable. #KATENY #NPFL20— Opta Nigeria (@OptaNGR) November 10, 2019
In Port Harcourt, Rivers United needed a last minute controversial penalty – smashed home by Bakry Bamba – to wrestle a point from the jaws of defeat against Heartland. Heartland had led since the 15th minute through Christian Pyagbara.
The last time Heartland FC recorded a goal away to Rivers United was in November 2015 (then Dolphins FC). The goal was scored by Victor Ezeji in the 15th minute. Replica? #RIVHEA #NPFL20 https://t.co/rs8ov0EYIZ
— Opta Nigeria (@OptaNGR) November 10, 2019
A thrilling encounter between Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves ended in a 1-1 draw at the Akure Sports Stadium.
Wolves got their noses in front to silence the home fans courtesy of a Charles Upele goal on the half hour mark, but Isreal Abia equalised for Stars moments later in what proved to be the last goalscoring detail of the tie.
NPFL 2019/2020 Match Day 2 Results
Jigawa GS 0-1 Plateau Utd
Lobi Stars 4-0 Delta Force
Rivers Utd 1-1 Heartland
MFM 1-1 FC Ifeanyiubah
Adamawa Utd 1-1 Rangers
Sunshine Stars 1-1 Wolves
Katsina Utd 1-1 Enyimba
Nasarawa Utd 0-1 Wikki