Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars were among the biggest winners as Matchday 11 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) ended on Sunday.
A total of 20 goals went in across Sunday’s fixtures. Shooting Stars claimed the biggest win of the day, while Kano Pillars kept their third clean sheet in a row.
Shooting Stars beat Abia Warriors 4-1 in Ibadan to move up to 10th place with 15 points.
Damilola Akinola opened the scoring for the Oluyole Warriors in the fifth minute. Sodiq Ibrahim then struck twice in six minutes late in the first half to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.
Abia Warriors pulled one back in the 80th minute, but Yusuf Issa sealed the win for Shooting Stars to make it 4-1.
The defeat leaves Abia Warriors in the relegation zone, 18th with 10 points.
In a Northern affair, Kano Pillars beat high flying Nasarawa United 2-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
Yahaya Ibrahim opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finishing Rabiu Ali’s pinpoint cross. Defender Fabian Nworie then doubled the lead in the 64th minute to secure the win.
The result lifted Kano Pillars to fourth place with 18 points. They have now kept clean sheets in three consecutive matches.
Nasarawa United dropped to fifth after suffering their fourth defeat of the season.
Elsewhere, Katsina United ended their recent poor run with a 2-1 win over Sporting Lagos at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.
Luis Dadong scored twice in the first half, finding the net in the 10th and 28th minutes to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.
Aliyu Baba pulled one back for Sporting Lagos in the 65th minute. However, Katsina United held on to claim their fourth win of the season.
They sit ninth with 16 points, while Sporting Lagos are 10th with 15 points.
Meanwhile, Kwara United were the only home team to lose in the NPFL this weekend, falling 2-1 to Bendel Insurance in Ilorin.
Gideon Stephen gave the Harmony Boys the lead in the 49th minute. Bendel Insurance responded quickly, with Kayode Oke equalising in the 52nd minute.
Chinedu Nwosu then scored in the 60th minute to complete the comeback and secure all three points for the Benin Gunners.
Inter Lagos dropped more points at home after drawing 1-1 with struggling Ranchers Bees at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Quyum Akinpelu gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the ninth minute. Oscar Gabriel equalised for Ranchers Bees on the hour mark.
Inter Lagos remain bottom of the table with three points. Ranchers Bees are second from bottom with nine points.
NPFL Top of The Table Clash: Rivers United and Rangers Share Points
The top of the table clash between Rivers United and Rangers International ended in a 1-1 draw in Port Harcourt.
Chijioke Mbaoma put Rivers United ahead in the 17th minute. Reigning champions Rangers responded through veteran forward Godwin Obaje in the 53rd minute.
Obaje was sent off in the 69th minute after receiving a second yellow card. Rangers played the rest of the match with 10 men but held on to earn a point.
Rivers United remain top of the NPFL with 18 points. Rangers are second on the same number of points, with two games in hand.
In Jos, Plateau United dropped points at home for the second successive time after drawing 1-1 with Warri Wolves.
Emmanuel Aribogha gave the visitors the lead in the 24th minute. Samuel Ayanrinde equalised for Plateau United on the hour mark to ensure both teams shared the points.
Plateau United sit sixth with 16 points, while Warri Wolves are 14th with 13 points.
Enyimba beat Kun Khalifat 1-0 in Aba to claim their third win of the season.
Tobi Iyanda scored the only goal in the 15th minute to give the hosts all three points.
Despite the win, Enyimba remain in the relegation zone with 11 points.
Niger Tornadoes and Barau FC played out a goalless draw on Friday.
On Saturday, Doma United and Ikorodu City shared the points in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
