Sunshine, 3SC, Sparkle, As Enyimba Flop

Sunshine Stars cut back Dolphin’s lead at the top of the Nigeria Premier League as they beat Sharks 2-0 with Ajani Ibrahim netting his 11th goal on a weekend the home teams again dominated.

Zamfara piled more pressure on Enugu Rangers underfire coach, Alphonsus Dike, with a win in Gusua, while 3SC won their second straight game courtesy of a 1-0 victory over champions Enyimba.

There were also home wins for Ocean Boys, Lobi, Heartland, JUTH and Kano Pillars, but struggling Plateau United picked up a rare result away from home when they drew 2-2 with Bukola Babes.

Sunshine Stars pegged Sharks 2-0 at Ijebu-Ode to now have 53 points from 25 matches. Ajani Ibrahim delivered a super cross from the left for Ukeyima Akombo to score his seventh goal in the 42nd minute.

Ajani then scored his 11th goal from the penalty spot in the second half after a foul by Sharks inside their box. Kano Pillars shot back to third spot courtesy of a lone goal home win over relegation-threatened Crown FC.

Pillars have 43 points from 25 matches and Crown slumped to the foot of the table with 21 points. Gambo Mohammed was the match winner for Pillars after 76 minutes. It was the striker’s eighth goal of the season.

A brace by former youth international, Stanley Ohawuchi, in the 28th and 62nd minutes gave hosts Heartland a 2-1 win over Kwara United.

Kwara’s consolation effort was by Solomon Yahaya in stoppage time. Kwara are seventh in the standings with 38 points and Heartland occupy 12th position after amassing 34 points.

Shooting Stars stopped champions Enyimba, thanks to a Chima Akas penalty goal. Man of the match, Gbolahan Salami, was upended inside the box by Udochi Chinedu.

The Ibadan club dominated for most part of the game before Enyimba fought back in search of an equalising goal. “We lost, we have to take it in good faith,” conceded Enyimba coach, Okey Emordi.

JUTH FC of Jos moved off the basement of the league after they pipped visiting Kaduna United 1-0. Ghanaian striker, James Amankwei, found the back of the net in the 90th minute when he rounded up goalkeeper, Richard Ochaiyi, for his sixth goal of the season.

Both Ochaiyi and his opposite number at JUTH, Nura Mohammed, were brilliant with Mohammed the busier of the two shot stoppers.

Zamfara beat Enugu Rangers 1-0 as they fight to move outside the drop zone, Plateau United recorded a very vital 2-2 draw at Bukola Babes and Ocean Boys outscored Gombe United 2-0 in Yenagoa.

Lobi Stars were 1-0 winners over visiting Warri Wolves. The Makurdi outfit are now ninth with 37 points.

Victor Michael scored his sixth goal of the season as Dolphin consolidated their leadership of the Nigeria Premier League, NPL Saturday with a 3-0 spanking of visiting Niger Tornadoes.

Dolphin have now opened a five-point gap at the top of the table as they have 53 points from 25 matches.

Michael set the ball rolling for a convincing home win for Dolphin after just seven minutes, before Ghanaian striker, Owusu Addae, hit target on the 23rd minute to make it 2-0.

Defender, Kennedy Chinwo, stretched the Port Harcourt team’s lead when he tucked away a penalty after 73 minutes of action.