KweséESPN Reporter 6y

Lobi Stars, Go Round FC earn shock midweek wins

Lobi Stars beat Enugu Rangers away from home, while Go Round FC earned a first-ever topflight win, defeating heavyweights Akwa United on Match Day 2 in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

KweséESPN rounds up Wednesday's matches:

Enyimba 0 - 0 Heartland FC

The first oriental derby of the season, played at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, ended in a dull 0-0 draw.

Hosts Enyimba were the better team offensively during the game, and Wasiu Alalade went close with a volley which narrowly missed target, while Stanley Dimgba missed a clear chance when faced with just goalkeeper Ebele Obi to beat, in the match's only real goal-scoring opportunities.

The result means both teams started the season with successive draws and keeps Enyimba in 15th-place and Heartland 16th on the log.

Plateau United 2 - 0 Rivers United

Plateau United moved into second-place on the league table thanks to a comfortable win against Rivers United.

The champions went ahead through Elisha Golbe's 31st-minute free kick - a confirmation of the defender's goal-scoring ability.

Forward pair Emeka Umeh and Tosin Omoyele excellently combined on the hour mark to double the lead, with Umeh expertly finishing his chance.

Okiemute Odah made a save from close range in the 72nd-minute to deny Guy Keumian an opportunity to pull a goal back for 13th-placed Rivers United.

Enugu Rangers 1 - 2 Lobi Stars

Goals in either half, from Samad Kadiri and Ibukun Harrison, handed Lobi Stars a shock win away to Enugu Rangers, a second successive league defeat for the Flying Antelopes which keeps them 18th on the log.

For long periods of the match, Rangers failed to offer much of an attacking threat. However, they rallied back in the final 10-minutes, winning a penalty, which was converted by Chiamaka Madu on 84-minutes.

The result represents a huge victory for fourth-place Lobi Stars, who earned only a first away win since 2010 at Enugu Rangers.

Kano Pillars 2 - 0 Nasarawa United

Kano Pillars earned a comfortable home win against Nasarawa United, a result which moves Sai Masu Gida into third on the table.

For a second successive match day, the duo of Junior Lokosa and Alassan Ibrahim were the Pillars' goal scorers. Lokosa profited from some brilliant play from strike partner Nyima Nwagua to net a 35th-minute opener.

Ibrahim doubled the lead and thus sealed the win with a 61st -minute strike, which condemned Nasarawa United to the bottom of the table after two defeats.

Go Round FC 1 - 0 Akwa United

Adelani Adeseun entered the Go Round FC history books on Wednesday by scoring the first top-flight goal of the newly promoted club, which earned them a win against Akwa United.

Despite the early Akwa United pressure, when Katoh Haggai and Aniekeme Asuquo both went close to breaking the deadlock, Go Round stunned the heavyweights against the run of play with Adeseun's strike.

The result leaves the privately-sponsored team in 11th-place, an historic win which will be talked about for the foreseeable future.

MFM FC 1 - 0 Kwara United

Waheed Adebayo's 50th-minute goal earned MFM FC a win against 19th-place Kwara United.

The youngster, who could have a bigger role to play within the first-team this season following his peripheral role last year, proved his class by outshining his more experienced teammates on the day.

It was the perfect response from MFM -the win lifting them to 12th-place- following their opening day defeat at Abia Warriors.

Niger Tornadoes 2 - 1 FC Ifeanyi Ubah

Niger Tornadoes raced to the top of the league table on the strength of their home win against ninth-place FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Minna.

Solomon Owello opened scoring in the 15th-minute for the home side, their third goal of the campaign. Godwin Obaje drew FC Ifeanyi Ubah level in the 34th-minute, the prolific forward's second goal of the season.

Uche Onwasanya restored Tornadoes lead four minutes after the restart, and they held on for the win to continue their dream start to the season.

Sunshine Stars 2 - 1 Katsina United

Sunshine Stars moved into fifth place on the table after beating Katsina United 2-1 in Akure.

Abiodun Joseph hit the target in the 41st-minute to open scoring for Sunshine Stars, but Katsina United impressively fought back and were soon on level terms through Tasiu Lawal's 63rd-minute equaliser.

The home team clinched maximum points thanks to Sikiru Alimi's 81st-minute spot kick, a goal which condemned Katsina to the last relegation spot on the log.

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