NPFL Week 7 Review: Away win for Giwa FC, Rangers trash Akwa United to go top
Giwa FC winning away from home was the highlight of the NPFL week 7 games played across the nation. A total of 17 goals were scored in 7 games (2 goals per game), 6 home victories, and an away win.
On Saturday, the only NPFL fixture of the day between Shooting Stars and Rivers United seems to be in favour of Rivers United before the start, as stats were against the Oluyole Warriors.
Shooting Stars have not beaten a team (Dolphins) coached by Stanley Eguma (Rivers Utd coach) in 4 years. Last time a P/Harcourt club (Dolphins) played in Ibadan vs Shooting Stars, it ended 2-2.
But non of these stats mattered on the day, as Shooting Stars took all the points against 10-men Rivers United at the Lekan Salami Stadium thanks to Wasiu Jimoh’s 40th minutes strike from the spot kick.
In Lagos, at the Onikan Stadium, Ikorudu FC lost to Giwa FC in a keenly contested tie. David Sunday put Giwa FC ahead in the 5th minutes but a Messi-like finish from Ojukwu brought the Lagos based club back on level terms to the joy of their fans before half time.
Both teams sought for the winning goal but it was the away team that eventually got one when Amos Gyang finished a good team play in the 88th minutes.
Akwa United were no match for Enugu Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium as goals from Bobby Clement, Tope Olusesi and ever present Chisom Egbuchulam in the 30, 52 and 73 minutes respectively gave Rangers the maximum points and moved them to the top of the log.
In Owerri, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, surprise league leaders MFM FC gave it all their best, fought for every ball, committed to the challenges and broke quickly but Fortune Omoniwari’s 31 minutes strike was enough to earn Heartland the maximum points.
The defeat means MFM FC are now 2nd on the log behind Enugu Rangers who trashed Akwa United.
In Bauchi, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, in one of the Northern derbies Wikki beat Tornadoes 2-1 to move to 6th on the log.
In the other Northern derby, two quickfire goals from Nuhu Julius and Sunday Ingbede cancelled out Tony Okpotu’s goal for Lobi to earn Plateau United the maximum points at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.
In Katsina, at the Karkandah Memorial Stadium, FC Ifeanyiubah’s international players couldn’t help them from going down to El Kanemi 2-1.
Okereke Maduabuchi put the away side ahead in the 8th minutes but Ibrahim Mustapha equalized for the home team before half time. Agoha Otakho scored from the spot in the 75th minutes and the home team hung on to the lead to earn the maximum points and move away from the relegation zone.
NPFL Week 7 Results
El-Kanemi 2-1 Ifeanyiubah
Heartland 1-0 MFM FC
Plateau Utd 2-1 Lobi
Rangers 3-0 Akwa Utd
Wikki 2-1 Tornadoes
Ikorodu Utd 1-2 Giwa FC
Shooting Stars 1-0 Rivers Utd
Photo credit (LMCNPFL)
