Rivers United seamless flow in the Nigeria Premier League ended abruptly as the backwaters candidate suddenly got rejuvenated and inflicted a 2-0 defeat on initial table-toppers from Port Harcourt.
Even by the waterfront arena, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena which overlooks the Lagos Lagoon, Rivers failed to flow. The result meant the first defeat this season to Rivers United.
Remo Stars moved up to the top of the log again after a 1-0 defeat of Lobi Stars and the setback that Rivers United got in Lagos.
Victory for Remo Stars at home is the icing on the cake of the Ikenne town’s celebration of its annual Ereke Day, which concluded on Saturday.
The goal that shot the Ikenne community outfit to the top was scored by Michael Okoro Ibe in the 47th minute.
In Lagos, after a goalless first half, Cole Ayomide, put the Ikorodu City side in the lead in the 48th minute, just a minute after the goal in Ikenne that compromised the initial top position of Rivers United.
Rivio Ayemwenre doubled the lead for Ikorodu City in the 53rd minute. What could have turned a miserable evening for Rivers United was averted when a third goal by Ikorodu City in the 78th minute
But the struggle against relegation is far from being over for Ikorodu City as they are still one of those in the backwaters.
With 11 points, they are 17th in a 20-team league in which four will drop at the end of the season. Their fellow strugglers include Bayelsa United, Akwa United and Lobi Stars. They all have one thing in common – all within aquatic zones of either the sea, lagoon and the Benue River that linked with River Niger before flowing southward into the sea.
Apart from the match in Lagos, struggling Heartland’s heart was large enough to inflict an away win over neighbours, Abia Warriors who were compelled to drop their ammunition following a 2-0 loss.
And so, Heartland FC under Emmanuel Amuneke, continues a dramatic recovery after a bad start in the season.
Micheal Ogu opened scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Chukwuma Agor in deep into injury time added a second goal. The result practically gave the Owerri side relief as they were out of the relegation zone after amassing 12 points. They are now in the 12th position.
While in Ijebu Ode, Bendel Insurance recovered from their last week’s home defeat as they inflicted the same fate on Sunshine Stars of Akure.
Kayode Oke Solomon opened the score for the visitors in the 17th minute but the home side away from home secured parity in the added time of the first half. But Nnamdi Anthony got the winning goal for Insurance in the 60th minute.
In Enugu, the defending champions secured a two-nil win through Godwin Obaje with the first in the 50th minute and another in the 60th minute via a penalty kick.
El-Kanemi Warriors pipped visiting Katsina United by a lone goal while Akwa United won 2-1 against visiting Kwara United. Chijioke Alaekwe opened score for the home side in the 17th minute but Emmanuel Ogbole restored parity in the 32nd before Ebedebiri Endurance scored the winner in the 60th minute via a penalty.
The win still leaves Akwa United, nine points, in the relegation zone. They are 19th on the log.
In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United forced visiting Enyimba to a 1-1 draw. Eneke Awazie had put the visitors in front in the 29th minute but Magbisa Wisdom scored the equaliser in the 36th minute.
In Kano, two late goals from veterans, Rabiu Ali and Super Eagles off-field captain Ahmed Musa gave host Kano Pillars a 2-1 win against Plateau United.
After an uneventful first half, the visitors opened score in the 66th minute through Gafar Saka before Rabiu Ali restored parity in the 76th minute and Musa scored the winner deep inside injury time.
While in Minna, Niger Tornadoes dismissed visiting Shooting stars of Ibadan with goals from Joseph Godstime in the 30th minute and Mendos Rickson in the 88th minute.
NPFL RESULTS
El-Kanemi 1-0 Katsina Utd
Abia Warriors 0-2 Heartland
Akwa Utd 2-1 Kwara Utd
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Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Enyimba
Rangers 2-0 Nasarawa
Ikorodu City 2-0 Rivers Utd
Kano Pillars 2-1 Plateau Utd
Tornadoes 2-0 Shooting StarsSunshine 1-2 Insurance
