Four fiercely contested games played at various locations on Sunday marked the end of the 13th matchday of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
On Saturday, five games were determined. With Rivers United returning to winning ways, the nine games resulted in three draws, six home victories, and a total of 14 goals.
At the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, the Shooting Stars defeated Bayelsa United 1-0 after a fierce battle, extending their outstanding home record.
Anthony Okachi scored the game-winning goal, his second straight league goal of the year.
In the 13th minute, Okachi had a chance to break the tie but missed his position on a feed from Samuel Ayanrinde.
But two minutes later, he made things right, giving the home crowd something to celebrate.
In the 30th minute, Bayelsa United’s attacker nearly scored as they made a strong effort to tie the score.
But Mustapha Lawal, the goalie for the Shooting Stars, was up to the challenge and parried the ball to safety.
Both teams created scoring opportunities in the second half, but neither was able to put the ball in the net.
The win for Shooting Stars prolongs their winning streak at home, while Bayelsa United’s loss puts them back in the relegation zone.
In other games, Katsina United defeated Remo Stars 2-0 at Mohammed Dikko Stadium.
Katsina United recovered from their stunning loss to Ikorodu City two weeks ago thanks to goals from Azeez Falodu and Dawi Boslam.
In other news, Rivers United defeated Abia Warriors 1-0 in Port Harcourt after a fierce battle to get back to winning ways.
Rivers United went to the top of the league with 25 points as Ndifreke Effiong’s penalty in the 58th minute proved to be the difference between the two teams.
With a 2-0 victory at the New Jos Stadium, Plateau United defeated Nasarawa United in their northern derby.
The NPFL table has changed significantly in the most recent round of games.
Due to their excellent performance, El Kanemi Warriors have displaced Enyimba United to third place.
Remo Stars drop to second position with 22 points, while Rivers United grab the lead with 25 points.
Following their loss, Bayelsa United dropped back to 17th place in the relegation zone with 14 points.
But after defeating Kwara United 3-1, Bendel Insurance has just escaped the relegation zone. Nasarawa United, Akwa United, and Lobi Stars are in 18th, 19th, and 20th place, respectively.
