A total of 18 goals scored ,two barren draws with two players scoring a brace each, on MatchDay 17 of the NPFL 2019/2020 season which produced yet again another reckoning features as the league inches gradually to its half.
▶Dakkada FC in a comfortable home win
Dakkada 2-0 Jigawa Golden Stars
They result now see them go fifth on log. It was relatively an easy ride for the Akwa Ibom based club as they defeated their opponent without any reckoning moment from the visitor.
▶Adamawa cuts Kwara United winning streak
Adamawa Utd 2-1 Kwara United
The encounter at the Isah Pantami Stadium in Gombe State had Adamawa United securing three points as they defeated the visiting Kwara United 2 goals 1.
It was an unexpected result for the visitor who during their last away outing brought back home the unthinkable 3 points against Akwa United.
▶Tasiu at it again for Katsina United
Katsina Utd 1-0 FCIU
A lone goal from the former Niger Tornadoes striker see Coach Makinwa led side off their stubborn visitor.
The goal which was scored in the 3rd minutes of the game went on to ultimately decide the match played under a closed door situation.
▶Match of ‘braces’ in Akure as Kano pillars took home a point
Sunshine Stars 2-2 Kano pillars
Anthony Omaka and Auwalu Ali were both on target as they scored a brace each in the match played at the Ondo Sports Complex.
A tension-soaked encounter, the Pyramid City Stars torpedoed Sunshine dominance when Auwalu netted his second in the 70th minutes of the game just 9 minutes from the Omaka’s second for Owena Waves.
Kano pillars continue to muscling up the log gradually after a poor start in to the season as they now occupy the 12th column of the table . Sunshine are now 4th with 27 points.
▶MFM ‘firmed’ off Plateau threats
MFM 0-0 Plateau Utd
It was a no-goal situation from the Agege Stadium (Soccer Temple) in Lagos as MFM stood firm against the technical weight of the Jos based side.
It was not a good omen for Plateau United who have been an intermittent occupier of the first column of the log sharing most often with Lobi Stars who now lead them with two points as the table topper.
Plateau Utd now occupies the second position with 27 points the same as Rivers United does.
▶Lobi now top the league
Lobi 2-1 Nasarawa Utd
The victory over Solid miners now see the Makurdi giant move top of the league with 31 points.
Nasarawa Utd got the consolation through Chinedu Ohanachom who is making his debut for the team in the 93rd minutes of play.
Yet again an unpleasant experience for Nasarawa Utd who have been struggling to muscle up their way to a comfortable seat on the log since the beginning of the season.
They now seats at the bottom of the table with a relegation threatening situation .
▶Akwa United edges past Heartland
Akwa Utd 3-1 Heartland
The Promise Keepers secured three maximum points against the visiting Heartland FC of Owerri.
Ndifreke Effiong’s brace and Orok Akarandut goal did the needful for the Akwa Ibom outfit as they now have 26 points and seats 6th on the table.
Heartland are now 11th on the table with 22 points.
▶Abia Warriors with a narrow win
Abia Warriors 1-0 Wolves.
Okon Otop would later scored in the 90th to give the home team the most needed victory .
Making it their 6th win of the season, they continue to make a passive influence in the league with 24 points while standing 7th on the table with Warri Wolves still trying to establish a reckoning stand into the season, they are now staggering in 14th on the log with 20 points.
▶Rivers United pegged back by Wikki
Rivers Utd 0-0 Wikki
It was yet another no goal situation on MatchDay 17 after the MFM and Plateau Utd encounter which ended in a barren draw.
The cracker was no doubt between two giants and may be the result wasn’t a bad one for the two sides, most especially the visitor from Bauchi who have just been re-energised by a recent overhaul mission aimed at fortifying the club to live up to its competitive nature.
Yemi Sodeeq