Lobi Stars 2-2 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars remain in the top seven of the Nigeria Professional Football League, despite being held to a 2-2 draw by a stubbornly resilient Lobi Stars side.
The visitors at the Aper Aku Stadium were never subdued in the week six fixture.
Lobi Star started well and drew the curtain raiser through Anthony Okpotu's spot-kick in the 16th minute.
The visitors could have been alarmed by conceding such an early goal, but there was time enough to regroup.
There was an instant response from Baba Ganaru's men as the skillful Prince Aggrey
dribbled two defenders before pulling the trigger.
dribbled two defenders before pulling the trigger.
Lobi Stars continuously progressed to the edge of the Kano Pillars penalty area, only to then clutter up their play by moving the ball around looking for intricate passing angles for through balls.
There seemed an unwillingness to move the ball down the flanks and sling crosses into the penalty area, so Pillars stood firm and gained confidence and prominence with a series of counter-attacks that caused the home defence to reel.
One break up field eventually delivered, with Aggrey's cross turned home for an own goal by Moses Bunde two minutes after the half hour mark. It was an awkward attempt to clear the ball.
Stars had spurned a couple of chances before then but they seldom broke beyond the Kano Pillars backline, which was sitting deep.
The visitors could hold firm to their game plan, since the onus was on Lobi Stars to try to win the game and counter-attacking opportunities would be left in the wake of that ambition.
Lobi Stars were stung, but that prompted an urgency that contributed to an equaliser in the second half. There were series of pressure on Kano Pillars and Raphael Ayagwa delivered the goal.
The game opened up in the final minutes, but neither side could capitalise.
Giwa FC 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Giwa FC were made to work hard to secure victory in their NPFL match against Sunshine Stars, having claimed a late 1-0 win at the Rwang Pam Stadium.
The best opening of the first half fell the way of Isiaka Olawale, who saw his effort cleared off the line by Kunle Odunlami.
The Jos Elephants looking to win in their week six outing, continued to enjoy the brighter spells of possession but were unable to find a way through in a tame first half.
With the game poised to in a draw, substitute Omotayo Adegbogun put the ball in the net five minutes into injury time.
Gbenga Ogunbote's charges are now in 12th place with two wins and a draw from five matches, while the Owena Waves have two points from five games and are 19th in the 20-team table.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah 4-1 Ikorodu United
Ikorodu United suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to FC Ifeanyi Ubah at the Rojenny International Stadium.
The Anambra Warriors worsened the miseries of the beleaguered Oga Boys walloping them in the week six match.
Ten minutes into the tie, Nico Dao unleashed an unstoppable effort from the edge of the box and the hosts were ahead.
It was 2-0 soon after, when Dao headed home Alberico Barbosa Da Silva's cross in the 18th minute.
The visitors halved the scoreline when Stephen Nwaiwu scored from a well taken free kick seven minutes after restart.
Okereke Maduabuchi restored the hosts' lead with a deflected effort from close range.
Seka Pascal compounded the woes of Ikorodu United with a well struck penalty-kick late in the game.
MFM FC 3-1 El-Kanemi Warriors
MFM FC zoomed to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table when they defeated Elkanemi Warriors 3-1 at the Agege Stadium.
Goals from Stephen Odey, Julius Emiloju and Emmanuel Onuwa gave Fidelis Ikechukwu's charges thethree points, as they moved up to first spot with 13 points from 6 matches whilst Warriors sit in 18th spot with three points from five outings.
After making a great run in the box, Odey scored the opener for the Olukoya Boys.
The Lagos-based side dominated the proceedings following their goal and kept Ladan Bosso's side on the backfoot.
A number of great touches by MFM saw the visitors caught napping in the 47th minute and Emiloju applied the finishing touch from Ifeanyi Ifeanyi's delivery.
In the 66th minute, Japhet Daniel reduced the deficit and gave Elkanemi Warriors the hope of snatching a draw.
MFM continued to show hunger and in a swift move, Onuwa made it three goals to one.
In the end Fidelis Ikechukwu's boys walked away with the full three points.
Niger Tornadoes 3-2 Rivers United
Niger Tornadoes endured a late fightback from Rivers United to emerge victorious in an entertaining 3-2 victory over the visiting team.
In-form Ismail Gata drew the curtain raiser from a well taken free-kick in the 44th minute for his third goal of the season.
All efforts from Rivers United to turn the game around were thwarted by the home side, who hardly put a foot wrong.
Abdullahi Biffo's wards extended their lead in the 58th minute through Gabriel Wassa after a dazzling display.
It was 3-0 moments later, as former Sharks forward Daniel Jackson capitalised on a defensive error to register his name on the score-sheet.
Daniel Isreal however reduced the tally to give the away side some level of hope, before they scored again in the 82nd minute through Guy Kuemian, after a goal-mouth scramble.
Akwa United 2-0 Plateau United
In a game between two teams of different ambitions, it was always going to be the hungrier team that ultimately grind out result they craved.
A brace by Friday Ubong secured a 2-0 victory for Akwa United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday night.
From the blast of the whistle, the Promise Keepers took the fight to the visitors. The pressure paid off on the 28th minute.
Friday Ubong accepted a teasing cross from Michael Ibe Okoro and headed the ball beyond the goal.
However, Plateau United wasn't going to lie there and get beaten. They also strung a few passes together, as they looked to get back in the encounter.
The hosts continue to search for a second goal and they were rewarded in the 78th minute when Ubong got on the end of a pass from Emeka Isaac to score his and Akwa's second goal of the game.


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