NPFL: 3SC End Winless Run As Insurance And Enyimba Draw

The Oluyole Warriors have struggled to get results at home this season, and they found themselves behind after 29 minutes against their visitors in the match-day 11 encounter.

Samuel Ayanrinde, however, stepped up for Ogunbote’s side again, equalising before halftime, before putting them ahead minutes into the second half.

Defender Ghali Falke added the third for 3SC in the 59th minute, but there was still enough time for Plateau United to pull one back as the game ended 3-2. The result saw Plateau United drop to fourth on the table while 3SC moved up to seventh.

NPFL Club 3SC Receives Super Cup Prize Money

Meanwhile, there will be no change in the top-two as Group A leaders Bendel Insurance were also forced to a 1-1 draw by second-place Akwa United in Benin City.

In-form striker Osarenkhoe Imade was in the right place at the right time to poke home the lead for the Benin Arsenal and his eighth goal of the season inside two minutes, but the Promise Keepers levelled matters on the half hour mark through Cyril Olisema.

Elsewhere in Aba, Enyimba failed to close the gap on the top two teams as they dropped points at home for the second game running in their 1-1 draw against Nasarawa United.

League top scorer Emeka Obioma found the back of the net from the spot again to give Enyimba the lead and take his tally to nine, but the Elephants were undone by an Emmanuel Ogbole’s 76th minute equaliser. They, however, managed to leapfrog into third place, thanks to 3SC’s defeat of Plateau United in Ibadan.

In Maiduguri, Adebayo Abayomi saw red as Remo Stars held on to a 2-1 win against El-Kanemi Warriors. Andy Okpe put the visitors up 10 minutes into the second half and captain Junior Nduka doubled the advantage with a free-kick, but the hosts managed to pull one back before the end of the game.

A late header by Uche Moses in Umuahia ensured Abia Warriors took advantage in Group B with a 2-1 win over Enugu Rangers. The win was enough to move them back into the top three and a point behind Rivers United and Lobi Stars, whose fixture has been postponed due to the former’s involvement on the continent.

Meanwhile, Sunshine Stars were sloppy in front of their fans as they were held 1-1 by Doma United, just as Dakkada and Bayelsa United also played 1-1 in a bottom-of-the-log battle in Uyo.

Punch/Samuel Isaiah