By Rabark Bakare
Rivers United continued to exert their superiority over other teams with their fifth away win of the season in a 3-2 victory in Uyo over Dakkada. But in Jos, Plateau United protected their impressive record before their fans after a 4-0 home win over Enugu Rangers, in one of the Matchday 30 fixtures were decided across Nigeria.
Even without their top marksman, Ishaq Rafiu – whose 14 goals are yet to be matched by any NPFL striker, Chijioke Akuneto held forth scoring once for his 12th goal of the season while Malachi Ohawume added two more as Rivers United ran away as winners at Dakkada to increase their points haul to 64.
They retain their seven points advantage at the top, which they could extend to 10 with a home win over Plateau United next Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
MFM left the bottom of the log for the first time in recent weeks to occupy the 19th spot with 31 points after they grabbed their eighth home win of the season in a 3-1 success over Gombe United in a tie decided earlier on Saturday at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode.
Micah Ojodomo, Oladayo Alabi and Elijah Akanni were on the score sheets for the Church Boys, while Samuel Oyedeji reduced the deficit for the Desert Scorpions who slipped to the ninth spot with 41 points.
It was a fantastic weekend for Fidelis Ilechukwu and his men after Plateau United inflicted on Enugu Rangers their biggest loss of the season in a 4-0 home win to ensure they have picked up all available 45 points from the 15 games played at the New Jos Stadium.
Mohammed Zulkifilu weighed in with two goals to improve his scoring stats to seven while Chimezie Izuchukwu and Sunday Anthony converted the other two goals as the Flying Antelopes were made to return to their fortress with a disappointing defeat.
Plateau United remain in the second spot with 57 points opening a nine-point lead between them and their defeated foes. Rangers continued to occupy the third spot with 48 points despite the loss after fourth placed Remo Stars suffered an embarrassing 3-1 home defeat to Kano Pillars.
The Sky Blue Stars were beaten only for the second time this season and it was the rejuvenated Sai Masu Gida that thumped them in Ikenne.
Mark Daniel and Auwalu Ali Mallam put Pillars two goals up in the 15th and 35th minutes before Ibrahim Yusuf halved the deficit for Remo Stars in the 40th minute, Auwalu extinguished the thought of any comeback with his second of the game three minutes into the second half.
It was Pillars’ third successive win in a space of one week with victories over Heartland and Katsina United earlier recorded and the former league champions have sensationally pulled away from the drop zone to the 12th spot with 38 points.
At the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, troubled Heartland FC secured their fourth successive home win after they came back from a goal down to beat Shooting Stars 3-1.
Sunshine Stars bagged a routine 2-0 home win over Katsina United through the goals of Afeez Ajagbe and Ugochukwu Leonard with the latter getting his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot five minutes from normal time.
Sunshine Stars stay in the top half and are eighth on the table with 42 points but the Katsina United are 16th with 36 points.
Kwara United had Samad Kadiri to thank for their home win over Akwa United in Ilorin. The former Enyimba star notched his eighth goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 35th minute. Kwara United are on the fifth spot with 46 points but the reigning league champions slipped to the seventh spot with 44 points.
At the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, Wikki Tourists marked their return to their home ground with a lone goal win over Abia Warriors. Fuad Ekelojuoti’s strike in the 33rd minute proved to be the difference. Wikki are in 10th spot with 41 points. Abia Warriors are in the 15th spot with 36 points and only two points away from the drop zone.
At the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, Enyimba and Nasarawa United played an entertaining game that produced five goals in regulation time.
Samuel Stone put the eight times league champs in the ascendancy a minute before halftime but Sunday Okereke equalised for the Solid Miners four minutes after the break. Chukwuemeka Obioma shot the home team ahead again in the 52nd minute but again, Nasarawa United proved to be up to the task when they levelled again from the spot-kick taken by Tochukwu Michael who was converting his fourth penalty kick of the season to take his total to nine goals.
Enyimba were deservedly awarded two spot-kicks afterwards with Ghanaian import Farouk Mohammed converting his in the 87th minute but skipper, Austin Oladapo had his penalty kick saved by Goalkeeper George Ameh earlier.
Enyimba moved a step up to the sixth spot with 45 points but are still three points away from the top three while Nasarawa United slid a spot down to the 13th spot with 38 points.
A total of 30 goals were scored from the nine completed games in the Matchday 30 fixtures to make it one of the most productive weeks in the league this season with Matchday 31 fixtures already fixed for midweek.
NPFL Matchday 30 Results
MFM 3-1 Gombe Utd
Sunshine Stars 2-0 Katsina United
Kwara United 1-0 Akwa United
Heartland 3-1 3SC
Remo Stars 1-3 Kano Pillars
Dakkada 2-3 Rivers United
Plateau United 4-0 Enugu Rangers
Enyimba 3-2 Nasarawa United
Wikki Tourists 1-0 Abia Warriors
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