Rampant Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) breezed past Abia Warriors 4-1 in one of the NPFL games played on Sunday, reports www.aclsports.com.
Having been held to an entertaining draw in the South West derby last weekend, Shooting Stars came into the contest in confidence to back it up with a win against an Abia Warriors side that lost at home to Niger Tornadoes on matchday 10, and they went ahead to achieve that.
Salisu Yusuf’s men, like they did against Ikorodu City, scored in the opening five minutes of the game. Damilola Akinola toed a fine pass from Sodiq Ibrahim past the Abia Warriors goalkeeper for the lead.
Shooting Stars continued to press for more goals, but goalkeeper Johnson Nmecha made some fine stops and interventions to deny the home side. Just three minutes before the break, Issa Yusuf’s corner was headed home by Ibrahim for his second goal contribution in the game to double the home side’s lead.
The Oluyole Warriors were not done yet as Ibrahim scored his second goal of the game in first-half stoppage time. Olaoke Olajobi sent a teasing pass into the path of the striker, and the former Sunshine Stars man finished expertly for a three-goal lead at the break.
After making quadruple changes at the break, Imama Amapakabo’s Abia Warriors came out fighting better, and they got back into the game after Emeka Obioma squeezed a shot past the goalkeeper. However, Yusuf scored from long range to restore 3SC’s three-goal cushion and secure a comfortable home win for the Oluyole Warriors.
In Lagos, it finished 1-1 between strugglers Inter Lagos and Ranchers Bees. Qoyum Akinpelu put the Lagosians in front from the spot before the Bees equalized through Oscar Gabriel just after the hour mark. Tobi Iyanda was the matchwinner for Enyimba in their 1-0 win over Kun Khalifat in Aba.
Kano Pillars continued their fine run with a comfortable 2-0 win over Nasarawa United in Kano. Yahaya Ibrahim and Fabian Nworie scored the goals at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Katsina United also ended Sporting Lagos’s six-game unbeaten run to return to winning ways with a 2-1 victory. Luis Dadong grabbed a brace for the hosts, while Aliyu Baba scored on the road again.
In the biggest game of the weekend in Port Harcourt, it finished 1-1 between Rivers United and Rangers. Chijioke Mbaoma scored in the second game in a row to put the hosts ahead before Godwin Obaje, who was later sent off, equalized for the champions in the second half. It was the same outcome as between Plateau United and Warri Wolves in Jos. Samuel Ayanrinde cancelled out Emmanuel Aribogha’s strike for visitors.
Bendel Insurance ended their point-less run on the road with a comeback 2-1 win over Kwara United in Ilorin. Gideon Stephen opened the scoring to put the hosts in front before Kayode Oke scored moments later to drag his side level. Chinedu Nwosu then grabbed the winner at the hour mark to lead Kennedy Boboye’s side to their first full points on the road this season.
Meanwhile, Doma United rescued a point against Ikorodu City on Saturday, while it finished goalless in the weekend’s opening game between Niger Tornadoes and Barau FC.
