NPFL: Heartland ease past Enyimba, Jigawa stun Abia, Rivers United run ends

HEARTLAND of Owerri bounced back from Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League defeat at Plateau United with a comfortable home win over neighbours Enyimba.

The Owerri side have had a torrid start to the season, failing to win any of their first three games of the season, but they experienced a turnaround in fortunes on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Enyimba, handing the Aba Elephant their first defeat of the season.

Shedrack Oghali scored in the 33rd minute and Emmanuel Adachie struck eight minutes into the second half to ease Heartland to victory over their South Eastern rivals.

Also on Wednesday, Warri Wolves returned to winning ways after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Lobi Stars with a big home victory of their own over Katsina United.

Wolves thrashed United 3-0 with second-half goals from Daniel Mark, Tega Ebetomane and Uche Ihualarum.

In one of the three draws on Wednesday in the NPFL, Sunshine Stars needed an injury-time equaliser to rescue a draw against visiting Lobi Stars.

Fuad Ekelojuoti gave Sunshine an early lead in the ninth minute but Lobi scored twice through Samuel Mathias and Ossy Martins to lead into the end of regulation time. Sadeq Yusuf scored in the second minute of added time to earn Sunshine a home point.

In another draw of the matchday, MFM FC’s Temi Adebayo scored a 77th minute goal to cancel out Chigozie Solomon’s 45th minute strike for Dakkada FC in their 1-1 draw in Uyo.

The other Akwa Ibom club, Akwa United, were also involved in a draw, holding Kwara United 1-1 in Ilorin.

The hosts scored first with a 61st minute penalty but Akwa United equalised seven minutes later.

In the only away win on Wednesday, Jigawa Golden Stars piled on more misery on coach Imama Amapakabo and his struggling Abia Warriors with a stunning 3-1 win.

Hosts Abia Warriors took the lead after just seven minutes through Utibe Archibong and looked on course for their first win of the season. But Jigawa struck thrice through Olasunkanmi Quadri (24th minute) and Stone Samuel (74th and 85th minutes) to record a big away win.

Enugu Rangers claimed their second straight win after Sunday’s victory at Jigawa Golden Stars with a 2-1 win over FC IfeanyiUbah on Wednesday.

Israel Abia scored a 12th minute penalty for Rangers but Ekene Awazie equalised for IfeanyiUbah in the 51st minute. Rangers bagged the winner six minutes later with Shedrack Asiegbu’s goal.

Rivers United had their 100 percent win record ended on Wednesday by hosts Wikki Tourists, who scored through Chinedu Udeagha’s 30th minute strike.

In Kano, Pillars defeated Plateau United 1-0, with veteran Rabiu Ali scoring the only goal from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.

NPFL MATCHDAY 4 RESULTS 

Adamawa United 0-0 Nasarawa United 

Kano Pillars 1-0 Plateau United 

Wikki Tourists 1-0 Rivers Utd

Kwara Utd 1-1 Akwa Utd

Abia Warriors 1-3 Jigawa GS

Rangers 2-1 FC Ifeanyiubah

Dakkada 1-1 MFM

Sunshine Stars 2-2 Lobi 

Wolves 3-0 Katsina Utd

Heartland 2-0 Enyimba