Remo beat Pillars 2-1 to maintain NPFL lead
Leaders Remo Stars maintained their eight-point grip at the top of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League table and completed a double over Kano Pillars this season with a nervy 2-1 win in Ikenne on Saturday, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
Sikiru Alimi and Abubakar Babawo netted for the Sky Blue Stars in the first half while Abba Adam pulled one back for the visitors in the first 45 minutes as well.
The match-day 23 encounter opened up to a lively start and the hosts got off the blocks inside five minutes thanks to Alimi who side-footed Seun Ogunribido’s low cross into the net.
But that was as much as the hosts controlled the game before their visitors began to gain momentum in search of an equaliser. Veteran midfielder, Rabiu Ali forced a save from Remo goalkeeper Kayode Bankole for their first real chance.
Pillars thought they had levelled the scores in the 39th minute after Adam poked home from an Awauli Ali’s shot which rattled the crossbar, but the effort was chalked off for an offside.
One minute later, they found themselves two goals down against the run of play with Babawo scoring from a similar situation after Pillars keeper spilled a shot from Alimi.
There were nine minutes of added time in the dramatic first half and that was enough for Pillars to pull one back through Adam for his fifth of the season.
The second half continued the way the first ended despite Daniel Ogunmodede’s halftime changes.
Remo Stars captain, Nduka Junior however went close from a free kick before Ali tested Bankole again from a direct free kick in the 57th minute.
Moments later, Pillars troubled again but Ogunribido made a goal line clearance to deny the visitors just as Akanni Qudus also had his ball cleared off the line at the other end after dribbling past Pillars goalkeeper.
Despite the late pressure from the visitors, Remo Stars held on to their 2-1 win, completing a double over Pillars for the first time in their history and also winning six straight games for the first time in the NPFL as well.
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