By: Chinedum Ohanusi
In what could be likened to the WWE Call-Out, Oriental teams, Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu, and Heartland FC of Owerri on Sunday prevailed against their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) rivals from the South-West; Remo Stars FC of Ikenne and Shooting Stars SC of Ibadan, with identical 2-1 scoreline.
Rangers had it easier though, as they edged table topping Remo Stars FC 2-1 at the Cathedral, with goals from Isaac Saviour (39th min. free kick), and Kingsley Maduforo (49th min.), before the Sky Blues from Ikenne-Remo halved the deficit in the 89th minute, through Hadi Harunahe other encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, was however more closely fought, with Emmanuel Amuneke’s Heartland FC going one goal up in the 30th minute, through Chukwuma Agor.
Gbenga Ogunbote’s Shooting Stars SC fought tooth and nail, to remain in the game and their resilience paid off in the 80th minute, when Adam Mustapha netted from the penalty spot, to draw the Oluyole Warriors level.
But the Naze Millionaires had the final laugh, as 3SC soon fell behind again to a well-taken goal, and match winner by Bassey John 2 minutes from regulation time.
Despite the losses in Enugu, and Owerri; Coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s side maintained their 8 points lead, over 2nd in the NPFL table Shooting Stars SC who are on 40 points, after the 24th round of fixtures.
And for their victory, the defending champions, Rangers Int’l climbed up to 3rd in the log with 38 points, a massive 10 points adrift of Remo Stars; whilst Rivers United FC reclined to 4th, having lost 0-1 to an out-of-sorts Enyimba Int’l FC, in a cracker, played in Aba on Saturday.
In Sunday’s other game, Julius Emiloju struck a 5th minute opener, as Bendel Insurance FC trounced 10-man Niger Tornadoes in Benin, as the Benin Arsenal continued their revival, in the post Monday Odigie era.
*Other Day 24 Results:*
Kano Pillars FC 1-0 Abia Warriors FC
Kwara United FC 1-0 Bayelsa United
Lobi Stars FC 1-1 Katsina United
Nasarawa United 0-0 Ikorodu City
Plateau United 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors
Sunshine Stars FC, for whom Mathew Samuel scores the only goal of the match, against Akwa United FC of Uyo, in the 26th minute of play at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode; remained in the bottom four with the Promise Keepers from Uyo; along with the pair of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, and Nasarawa United FC of Lafia.
