Plateau United consolidated their leadership of the Nigeria Professional Football League with a 2-1 win at home over Abia Warriors, but champions Rangers and Rivers United were held at home.
Golbe Elisha gave Plateau United the lead after just five minutes, before Godwin Zaki equalized in the 34th minute, courtesy of an audacious strike from outside the box.
It was Zaki’s third goal after five matches.
Plateau United then grabbed the match winner when Philip Azango jabbed home after Kabiru Umar’s penalty was partly saved by the Abia Warriors goalkeeper.
The Jos club now have 13 points from five matches, three points ahead of second-placed MFM FC.
Rivers United fired blanks against a spirited Lobi Stars side on Sunday in Port Harcourt in a largely uninspiring 0-0 draw as the Nigeria Professional Football League entered match day five.
The Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma, didn’t exactly cut a happy figure after the game as he voiced his sentiments on the result to assembled media at the post-match press conference.
Eguma said: “We changed our tactics at the break when we realized how Lobi set up shop in the first half.
“They were extremely defensive but coped well in the first half.
“I changed things in the second half and even though we created chances, we failed to score but that is football for you.”
Lobi Stars head coach, Godwin Uwua, was also at the press conference and he stated that the draw claimed in Port Harcourt felt like a win.
Uwua said: “This draw (against Rivers United) feels like a win though you guys (journalists) see it as a draw.
“You cannot compare Rivers United and MFM FC (a side Lobi lost 0-4 to in their last away game) in terms of coaching and (personnel).
“Having conceded four goals against MFM, I knew that if I wasn’t careful, my team could concede as much as 12 (goals) in Port Harcourt against Rivers United.
“I had to work harder because I knew I was facing a better team.”
Rivers United slipped from second to fifth with nine points from five matches as a result of the draw, while Lobi Stars now occupies 10th spot on the NPFL log with seven points from their opening five fixtures.
The results
ABS FC 2-0 Shooting Stars
Enyimba FC 2-1 Nasarawa United
Enugu Rangers 1-1 Niger Tornadoes
Gombe United 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Plateau United 2-1 Abia Warriors
Remo Stars 2-0 Elkanemi Warriors
Wikki Tourists 3-1 FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Rivers United 0-0 Lobi Stars
MFM FC 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kastina United 1-1 Akwa United.