Rivers peg back Remo in NPFL title race
An 84th-minute header by Bolu Sholumade was all former champions Rivers United needed on Sunday to edge Nigeria Premier Football League leaders, Remo Stars, in a top-of-the-table clash and cut the gap between them to five points as the 204/25 title race continues to go down the wire, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
The former Sunshine Stars defender sneaked in and headed home a lofty cross from another former Sunshine Stars stalwart, Taiwo Andulrafiu to hand Finidi George’s side the win on Sunday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Although Daniel Ogunmodede’s side have an outstanding game against Lobi Stars, the Rivers United defeat slowed down their title challenge, giving a glimmer of hope to Finidi who has been anticipating their slip.
It was a tense encounter and the first real chance of the game did not arrive until the 20th minute via a River United team move that ended in a shot going off-target.
The hosts kept up the tempo and were denied the lead by a double goal-line clearance by ThankGod Ikeagwu and Anthony Ebuka towards the end of the half.
The visitors also had their fair share of chances in the game with Togolese striker Franck Mawuena forcing a save out of Rivers United goalkeeper in the first half before Samuel Anaekwe and Tochukwu Michael saw their chances go begging in the 55th minute.
Rivers United then made Remo Stars pay for the misses with the winning goal courtesy of the mid-season signing Sholumade who finished off a pin-point cross with a well-placed header with six minutes to go.
Rivers United held on for the precious three points that moved the second-placed club to 55 points from 32 matches, reducing Remo Stars’ lead at the top to five points albeit having played a match more than the leaders.
In other matches, Enyimba returned to winning ways for the first time in four matches, coming from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory over local rivals Abia Warriors in the Abia derby.
Antoine Ijoma had given Imama Amapakabo’s side the lead in the 21st minute before Kalu Nweke levelled matters for the hosts before halftime while Joseph Atule scored the winner after the hour mark.
Ikorodu City have slipped further out of the continental tussle but they forced a goalless draw against 3SC in Ibadan.
Relegation-threatened Lobi Stars, winless in 14 league matches, ended a four-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Sunshine Stars in Enugu.
The result left nothing unchanged at the bottom with Lobi still 20th with 24 points while Sunshine Stars are above them with 35 points.
Akwa United also find themselves back in the relegation zone after a 2-0 loss to Nasarawa United with Heartland completing the red zone in 17th with 38 points.
