NPFL Match Day 6: MFM silence Sunshine Stars

Nasarawa United 0-0 Plateau United
Nasarawa United were held to a 0-0 draw by Plateau United in the week six of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday at the Lafia City Stadium.

The Solid Miners were frustrated by a resolute Plateau United defence which kept the home side's attack which included Adamu Hassan at bay during the clash.

Nasarawa lacked creativity and spark as they created few chances during the entire clash.
Perhaps the sound knowledge of coach Kennedy Boboye paid dividends for the Peace Boys who will depart Lafia with a valuable point.

The Miners lacked a cutting edge and Plateau United looked comfortable with their high pressing football.
The visitors were able to handle anything the hosts threw at them and will be delighted with having secured a vital away point.

Kabiru Dogo's Nasarawa United enjoyed the better of the match in the early minutes, with the Lafia outfit using their pace and power to impose themselves early on.

Plateau United suddenly shifted up a couple of gears
and looked much more potent in attack.
They immediately created a good chance when Philip Azango beat the offside trap, but the winger's effort was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso.

Nasarawa United had efforts at goal through Adamu and Thomas Zenke, but neither bothered the visiting team leaving the game goalless at the half time break.
In the second half, it was almost one-way traffic, with Plateau United forced into sitting deep in defence to hold Nasarawa United at bay.

The hosts almost broke the deadlock on 58 minutes when Olayinka Onaolapo squeezed the ball on goal after great work from Emmanuel Makama and Ichull Lordson, but goalkeeper John Gaadi make an excellent save to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Ifeanyi Ubah 1-0 Enugu Rangers

Two penalties and a red card was issued as FC Ifeanyi Ubah edged reigning NPFL champions Enugu Rangers 1-0.

Prince Aggrey converted from the penalty spot in the second stanza for the Anambra Warriors who had the last laugh in the Oriental Derby.

The NPFL week six encounter took place at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium.

Seka Pascal failed to convert a spot kick as he was denied by goalkeeper Nana Bonsu after Osas Okoro was adjudged to have handled the ball late in the first half.

Aggrey took it upon himself with a 76th minute penalty strike after Bonsu was penalised for a foul on substitute Godwin Obaje.

The Flying Antelopes played the final ten minutes with ten men after Pape Ousmane was sent to the showers.

Sunshine Stars 0-1 MFM FC 

MFM FC forced a bitter pill down the throat of Sunshine Stars with a 1-0 win when the two sides clashed at the Akure Township Stadium.

The Olukoya Boys who fought the battle of their lives made their victory certain through a 48th minute stunner by goal machine Stephen Odey.

Odey sent an unstoppable effort past goalkeeper Henry Ayodele to ensure that the Lagos side shocked the noisy Akure fans.

Sunshine Stars lacked quality and flavour to net the equaliser in front of their supporters.
A killer half volley on the hour mark by Sikiru Babatunde hit the crossbar.

The game from then was evenly fought with Sunshine Stars putting up all strategies to at least split the points but the steely defence of MFM FC held the attackers at bay until the final whistle to leave the Owena Waves' supporters being forced to give the Olukoya Boys a standing ovation.

Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Katsina United 

Niger Tornadoes laboured to hold ten-man Katsina United to a 1-1 draw at the Confluence Stadium.
Sanni Nasiru dispatched his penalty kick in the 30th minute but Ifeanyi Okoye also converted from the spot in the 80th minute to earn a point for the Ikon Allah Boys.

Ebenezer Odeyemi and Chidiebere Ajoku managed to consume the attention of Katsina United's back line who were on guard to frustrate them.

And as the tie wore on, Katsina United started to cause problems for the hosts with Tasiu Lawal, Destiny Ashadi and Joshua Agboola running the show for them.

One of such orchestrations led to the spot kick. A shot by Usman Barua was handled in the box. Sanni stepped up to give Katsina United a 1-0 lead.

Odeyemi fluffed his lines on a couple times before the half ended.

The Katsina outfit were made to finish the final 20 minutes with ten men after Udechukwu Chinedu was sent off for a second bookable offense.

Tornadoes won a penalty in the 78th minute and Okoye did justice to the kick by sending Dami Paul the wrong way.

Kano Pillars 1-0 ABS FC 

Super sub Adamu Mohammed scored a last-gasp goal to help Kano Pillars beat ABS FC 1-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Former Gombe United forward Adamu struck the match-winner four minutes into injury time in a game which saw both teams stonewalling each other's attacks.

Pillars were the stronger team off the blocks as they tried to feed their strikers with long balls but the Saraki Boys were equal to the task and averted any danger.

Masu Gida piled on the pressure as Gambo Mohammed took a crack on goal but Abdullahi Boje pulled off an excellent diving save to keep it 0-0.

At the other end, Samuel Oyedeji combined with Babangida Chindo brilliantly quite a few times but they failed to break down the Pillars backline.

The game slowed down as Rabiu Ali indulged in some sublime one-touch football but a goal still eluded Pillars as both teams headed into the tunnel at half-time goalless.

Gambo made way for match hero Adamu some minutes into the second period.

Pillars continued dominating the game with Ali, Nafiu Kabuga and Amos Gyang all trying their luck. But they either shot wide or were simply blocked off by the resilient ABS FC defence.

Boje came up with another save of his own as he put out a leg to thwart Adamu's attempt.
The game was heading towards a draw when Adamu struck at injury time.

Akwa United 1-0 Remo Stars 

Akwa United recorded their first win of the season with a slim 1-0 win over Remo Stars at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Substitute Musa Newman fetched the solitary goal on 84 minutes as Abdu Maikaba's men picked up maximum points for the first time in  this campaign.

Abia Warriors 1-0 Gombe United 

Abia Warriors made their home advantage count as they pipped Gombe United 1-0 at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

The Ochendo Babes picked their third win of the season at home to the Savannah Scorpions.

Sunday Adetunji's second half header was enough to earn Abia Warriors the three points at stake.

Warriors were the better side, dictating the pace of play but failed to make their dominance count as the first half ended barren.

The Okey Emordi tutored lads upped the ante in the second half and were duly rewarded when Adetunji beautifully headed home from close range seven minutes from time.

Shooting Stars 2-1 Rivers United 

Struggling Shooting Stars received some respite with a 2-1 win over a star studded Rivers United at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Teenage striker Sunday Faleye was handed his first start of the season and he made his presence felt with some slick and incisive passes.

At some point, his touches were as if he had a big velvet cushion around his right foot.

On 17 minutes, Rivers United were punished after a mistake at the back and the lively Faleye connected at the near post to register his season's second goal.

Former Niger Tornadoes forward Lukman Mohammed levelled up for the Pride of Rivers much to the delight of coach Stanley Eguma in the 29th minute of action.

Despite the equaliser, Rivers United still looked ordinary but were not out-played by their hosts who needed a win badly.

Shooting Stars came close with some scoring opportunities in the second half.

Their dominance was rewarded thanks to Jide Apena's match winner.

Lobi Stars 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Lobi Stars consolidated on their impressive draw at Rivers United with an eye catching 2-0 home win against Wikki Tourists.

Former Sunshine Stars striker Kingsley Eduwo fired the opener for the Pride of Benue before Solomon Kwambe topped it up late in the game.

Baba Ganaru's side had their game plan working to perfection in the first half, managing to force the hosts to draw a blank but there was no respite in the second half when striker Eduwo broke the deadlock from Kwambe's assist.

Despite having their resilience broken, Wikki Tourists fought hard for an equaliser but were denied by the rock solid backline of the Pride of Benue.

Solomon Kwambe neatly finished off a spot kick in the 90th minute to cement the win for Lobi Stars.

El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 Enyimba FC 

El-Kanemi Warriors maintained their perfect run at home after narrowly beating Enyimba FC 1-0.

University of Maiduguri undergraduate Hussein Bata netted the solitary goal of the tie for Ladan Bosso's team before the crowd at the El-Kanemi Sports Complex.

Enyimba came into the match but their main attempt to soldier through the midfield with powerful marshaling and bombardment failed to earn them an equaliser.