Pillars, Lobi Stars fight back to record crucial victories ...As table toppers Rivers United wallop MFM 5-0
Relegation threatened sides, Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars fought back gallantly to record very important victories against Kwara United and Katsina United respectively in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 27 matches played yesterday.
In Abuja, CHAN Super Eagles attacking winger, Auwalu ‘Malam’ Ali was the hero for struggling Pillars as he scored the winning goal in the second half to deny Kwara United a share of the spoils.
Hosts Pillars had fallen behind in the 35th minute when Ayobami Junior put the ball on a plate for Samad Kadiri to jab into the net but Jerry Eze drew his side level in the 52nd minute before Auwalu popped up with the winning goal in the 58th minute.
Despite the win, Kano Pillars are still languishing in the relegation zone as they are placed 18th on the table with 29 points from 26 matches.
At the Aper Aku stadium, Nigerian international, Barnabas Imenger jnr who came on as a second half substitute stunned Katisna United with the winning goal at the death to lift Lobi Stars out of the drop zone.
Although the first half was heading to a barren draw, Katsina United’s Mustapha Salisu shocked the home fans with his second in the second minute of first half added time.
In the second half, Lobi Stars’ pressure on their opponents paid off in the 58th minute when strong defender Endurance Ebedebiri got the much needed equaliser before Imenger produced the match winner in the 88th minute.
With the win, Lobi Stars have leapfrogged Katsina United to 15th position on the table with 32 points from 27 matches.
In Port-Harcourt, it was a one way traffic situation as Rivers United walloped relegation bound MFM 5-0 as Esor Nelson Okwa put the ‘Pride of Rivers’ in front in the 17th minute.
Chijioke Akuneto then scored a brace in the 45th and 46th minute before George Akpabio and leading scorer Ishaq Rafiu Kayode increased the tally in the 84th and 90th for the resounding victory.
Nasarawa United also brightened their chances of survival as they edged out title chasing Plateau United 2-1 in the North-central derby staged at the Tafawa Balewa stadium in Bauchi.
Elsewhere, Wikki Tourists defeated Dakkada 2-0 in Kaduna, Enyimba forced Akwa United to a 1-1 draw in Uyo, Sunshine Stars fell 0-1 to Gombe United while 3SC squeezed past Tornadoes 1-0 in Ibadan.