It was the show of the Emmanuels at Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe as visiting Doma United smashed Gombe United with three unreplied goals to record the second away victory of this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
But it was in Ibadan that another goal harvest was recorded, while Rangers win at home and go up the table, awaiting Lobi Stars game tomorrow in Lagos versus Sporting Lagos.
Rangers started the day third on the log, but have Kazwem Ogunleye and Kenneth Igboke to thank for delivering maximum result at Awka Township against bottom-of-the-table Heartland. It took only three minutes for Ogunleye to set the Flying Antelopes on winning ways, while Igboke added the ice on the cake with his 53rd minute strike.
The result means that Rangers have 13 points from seven matches and look down on the rest of the field on the log.
In Ibadan, it was a goal feast for Shooting Stars, who produced four goals from four different players. Ayobami Adekunle got the fans roaring with his opener in the 16th minute. But the visiting side, Niger Tornadoes responded through Chidiebere Ernest, 19 minutes later to end the half 1-1.
Just a minute into resumption, Ayodeji Bamidele struck what would be one of Shooting Stars’ three goals in the half. Goals by Gbolagade Adelowo (60th) and Kareem Ayinde (87th) ensured that the home side picked maximum points to move up two places from No. 4.
Remo Stars suffered defeat in Benin City and lost group – from No. 1 to No. 3.Ismael Seriki scored his first goal of the season in the 25th minute to give the Benin Arsenal victory. Insurance leapt from 13th to sixth.
Abia Warriors almost got away with a clean sheet at the Umuahia Township Stadium with a brace by Deinde Ibrahim in the 11th and 21st minutes almost settling scores. But Katsina United had the final say in the 80th minute to reduce the tally.
The Warriors gained four spots to place fourth temporarily.
Rivers United almost lost in Port Harcourt as Sunshine Stars held on to the goal scored in the 52nd minute by Osimaka Duke until added time. Alex Oyowah finally rescued a point for home side in the fifth minute of added time, to allow the former champions climbed from 10th to seventh.
The most sensational result of the MatchDay came from Gombe. Doma United showed no respect for their hosts as they hammered Gombe United 3-0.
Both sides went into the break with no goals. But Emmanuel Ekpeyong struck in the 52nd minute. Two minutes later, his name sake, Emmanuel Jesam made it 2-0 for Doma United, while he silenced the fans with his second strike four minutes to the end of regulation time.
The consequence of the away win was the escape of Doma from the relegation zone, two steps above danger, while Gombe lost four places to be at 10th.
Defending champions Enyimba pulled their second victory after playing four matches in the season. Mbaoma Chijioke’s goal from the spot in the third added minutes of the first half was all the Aba fans had to cheer. But it was enough to see the People’s Elephant out of the relegation zone to the tip of it.
Monday’s fixtures: Bayelsa United v Lobi Stars, Sporting Lagos v Kano Pillars (both 4 pm WAT)
Sunday’s results: Abia Warriors 2-1 Katsina United, Rivers United 1-1 Sunshine Stars, Rangers 2-0 Heartland, Enyimba 1-0 Kwara United, Shooting Stars 4-1 Niger Tornadoes, Bendel Insurance 1-0 Remo Stars, Gombe United 0-3 Doma United, Akwa United 0-0 Plateau United
