Thirteen goals were scored across all match venues this weekend as only one away win was recorded.
Wasiu Jimoh grabbed the first hat-trick of the season in some style, against MFM FC. While Abia Warriors ascended to the top of the league table after winning away from home at the Oriental Derby, as MFM crashed to their first defeat of the season in Ibadan, when league hostilities for match-day three of the NPFL rounded up.
Here is my review of the weekend:
3SC 3 VS 0 MFM FC
In one of the two games live on cable TV, 3SC’s Wasiu Jimoh stole the headlines with a first-half hat-trick to help his side to their first league win of the season and condemn league high-flyers, MFM FC to their first loss of the season, at the Adamasingba stadium in Ibadan.
For a team that has won their past two games on excellent first-half performances, they were given a taste of their own medicine, as Shooting Stars cruised to a 3 – 0 lead in the first-half, thanks to Wasiu Jimoh’s hat-trick. He grabbed his hat-trick in 32 first-half minutes.
MFM FC goalkeeper, James Aiyeyemi, who just lost his mother before the game, was at fault for the first goal and could have done better for the second goal.
ENUGU RANGERS 2 VS 1 NIGER TORNADOES
Enugu Rangers continued from where they stopped in their last game by handing out another defeat to the Tornadoes.
The Enugu giants were quick out of the block, when Chiamaka Madu netted their first goal in the 3rd minute and Osas Okoro scored in their 2nd goal in the 20th minute. More goals were expected from Rangers but none saw the light of day.
Late in the second-half however, Lanre Farinyaro pulled one back for the Tornadoes to make for a tense ending, but Rangers were more than capable of holding on to their advantage and seeing out the game.
PLATEAU UNITED 2 VS 1 WARRI WOLVES
Last season’s league runner-ups were handed their first defeat of the current season by Zachary Baraje’s Plateau United, away in Jos.
Warri Wolves will feel hard done by this result after an Onamado own goal gifted Plateau United the lead. King Osanga equalized for Warri Wolves, but Julius Nuhu immediately restored Plateau’s advantage a minute later and more than that, sealed victory for Plateau United.
KANO PILLARS 2 VS 1 WIKKI TOURIST
Kano Pillars bounced back from their midweek-defeat to Warri Wolves with 2 – 1 victory over Wikki Tourist, at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Having massively signed players during the off-season, they look to have found rhythm.
New signing, Prince Aggreh continues to make a good impression, as his 21st minute header gave Pillars the lead. Ifeanyi Matthew, also a new signing, doubled their advantage in the 69th minute before Mubarak Umar pulled one back for the visitors, to make for a nervy ending.
Baba Ganaru will be impressed with his boys, as they are now just a point behind league leaders, Abia Warriors.
HEARTLAND FC 0 VS 1 ABIA WARRIORS (Michael Olaha 67′)
Tagged as the biggest game of the weekend, the Oriental derby was a closely knitted affair as Abia Warriors, just like they did last season, defeated Heartland in front of their fans at the Dan Anyiam stadium.
No goal was scored until the 67th minute when again, Michael Olaha scored the decisive goal to win Abia Warriors the match and also propel them to the top of the League.
Abia warriors were also the only away team to win a game during the weekend.
IKORODU UNITED 1 VS 0 LOBI STARS
At a scanty Onikan stadium, the “Oga Boys” recorded their first victory of the season with a hard fought victory over Lobi Stars.
Balogun Kabir scored the solitary goal in the 11th minute. Lobi Stars who on their last away trip, defeated Shooting Stars in Ibadan, were looking to take advantage of the new boys in the league but met a different proposition.
Ikorodu United will be hoping to continue in this vein of form – having to lost a game this season, when action resumes on Wednesday.
RIVERS UNITED 2 VS 0 IFEANYI UBAH FC
Fedrick Obomate scored his third goal in as many matches, to lead Rivers United to their second league win of the season, against money spenders, Ifeanyi Ubah FC.
Having lost to MFM FC during the week, they got back to winning way against a side yet to lose and also fresh from mid-week inactivity.
Chigozie Ihunda put the host ahead at the stroke of half-time before Fedrick Obomate buried the game with the second goal in the 56th minute, to move Rivers United a point behind league leaders.
FULL RESULTS:
3SC 3 VS 0 MFM FC (Wasiu Jimoh 4’19’ 36′)
ENUGU RANGERS 2 VS 1 NIGER TORNADOES (Chimaka Madu 3′ Osas Okoro 20′ – Lanre Farinyaro 79′)
PLATEAU UNITED 2 VS 1 WARRI WOLVES (Onamado (og), Julius Nuhu 74′ – King Osanga 73′)
KANO PILLARS 2 VS 1 WIKKI TOURIST (Prince Aggreh 21′, Ifeanyi Matthew 64′ – Mubarak Umar 69′)
HEARTLAND FC 0 VS 1 ABIA WARRIORS (Michael Olaha 67′)
IKORODU UNITED 1 VS 0 LOBI STARS (Balogun Kabir 11′)
RIVERS UNITED 2 VS 0 IFEANYI UBAH FC (Chigozie Ihunda 45′, Obomate 56′)
Matchday 4 kick-off on Wednesday 2nd march 2016.
Continental duties:
Akwa (5) 0 – 1 (6) Vita Club Mokanda (Kalampubu 56′) agg (1-1)
Enyimba 2 – 0 Vipers (mfon udoh 36′, 61′) (agg 2 – 1)
NPFL Roundup done by Adebiyi Tobi, who can be reached via @THETOBBI
