NPFL Match Day 11 Group B review
All six matches were played in the Nigerian Professional Football League Group B on the Match Day eleven.
Yobe Stars played Go Round in Damaturu looking to snap their run of four games without a win. And they got their first chance early in the game when the referee awarded them a penalty. Phillip Auta stepped up and converted the spot kick in the 8th minute to give Yobe the lead.
Auta scored again in the 57th to double the lead for the hosts and confirm the win. The win didn’t move them off the bottom of the table, but they are now just a point behind Gombe United in 11th. Go Round stay in 5th place.
Kada City, for some the surprise package this season welcomed Nasarawa United at the Kaduna Town Stadium. After the first half without goals, the visitors took the lead in the 61st minute through Mohammed Maigishiri.
The hosts recovered and ten minutes later, in the 71st minute, Nura Mohammed got the equalizer. Teams were exchanging attacks for the rest of the regulation time before the referee awarded Kada City a controversial penalty four minutes into the stoppage time. Kabiru Sanusi took the kick and put the ball in the net for a win.
With just one defeat in the last five games, Kada City are fourth in Group B and a game behind El-Kanemi Warriors in third place. Nasarawa United remain down in 8th place.
Group B leaders FC IFEANYI UBAH played hosts to the Kano Pillars in Nnewi. It was a tight contest settled by a single goal. Uche Ihuarulam scored the winner in the 66th minute.
Ifeanyi Ubah FC (Twitter/@FCIfeanyiUbah)
Kano Pillars suffer their second loss in five games but stay in sixth place and a game behind Go Round. FC IFEANYI UBAH stay on top with 21 points, two more than Akwa United in second place.
Heartland go down to another defeat but for the first time at home in Owerri. The visitors were quick to get ahead when Effiong Ndifreke scored just four minutes into the game.
Chidiebere Ajoku equalized for the hosts in the 57th minute to give them hope. But all hope ended when Mfon Udoh netted the second goal for Akwa in the 72nd minute. To make things worse, a moment later, Heartland went down to ten men after a handball by Ebele Obi.
Akwa United are in second place in Group B, unbeaten in the last five matches while Heartland are down to seventh place.
El-Kanemi Warriors and Gombe United played out a goalless draw in Maiduguri. The visitors played the whole of the second half with ten men after Peter Ambrose got his marching orders from the referee.
The Warriors drop to third place in the standings, level with Akwa United in second, but with an inferior goal difference. Gombe United stay in 11th place, without a win in four games.
Abia Warriors and Plateau United met at the Umuahia Town Stadium. After a goalless first half, each team scored once in the second half. Odoba Oche gave visitors the lead in the 53rd minute which was negated by Obi Samson in the 69th minute.
They remain in 9th and 10th place respectively, equal on points, goals scored, and goals conceded. However, Abia Warriors have a win more than Plateau and are a game behind Nasarawa United in 8th place.