The 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season continued with Match Day 3 fixtures on Sunday, but it was a much better match day than the first two.
There was action in eight of the 12 league venues with four home victories, one away win and three draws recorded in the two groups of the abridged league competition.
Three matches were played in Group A, while five were played in Group B.
Results in Group A saw hosts Kwara United defeat Enyimba International Football Club 3-2 to record their first win of the season.
It was a result which shot the Ilorin-based clubside to the top of their group, with their victims of the day closely following.
In Gombe, hosts Wikki Tourists of Bauchi defeated Niger Tornadoes of Minna 2-1 to record their first win in their very first league game of the season.
Aminu Ahmad opened scoring in the 47th minute after firing in a low drive into the far left corner of the post.
Abba Umar doubled the lead for them in the 83rd minute, before the visitors halved the deficit through Ismaila Sarki in stoppage time.
The win shot Wikki Tourists to the third spot on the group’s 12-club log, while Niger Tornadoes slumped to the 9th position.
The third match in the group saw Remo Stars and Insurance of Benin play out a 1-1 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter at the Sagamu International Stadium.
Charles Omokaro scored in the 58th minute to hand visiting Insurance the lead on their return to the top flight, but Victor Mbaoma drew the hosts level in the 76th minute.
In Group B, another away win was recorded in what was unarguably the star match of the day as Heartland FC of Owerri defeated hosts Nasarawa United in Lafia.
Samuel Nwoshiri scored the match’s lone goal in the 15th minute.
The win ensured that Heartland FC claimed top spot as Nasarawa United slumped to the eighth position on the log.
2016/2017 NPFL champions Plateau United of Jos recorded their first win of the season by trouncing El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 2-0, after a home draw and an away loss.
Plateau United who have been ordered to Ilorin for three home league games were playing the first of the three matches.
Plateau United are in Ilorin as punishment for crowd trouble and assault on match officials on Match Day 1, alongside a N5 million by League Management Company (LMC).
In spite of playing away from home, the former champions demonstrated more hunger and determination, and were duly rewarded with the opening goal by Saheed Jubril in the 50th minute.
While the goal sparked a response from El-Kanemi, it was Plateau United who doubled their advantage when Bernard Ovoke scored from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.
The win shot Plateau United to 6th place on the log, while El-Kanemi dropped to the second spot.
In Kaduna, hosts Kada City FC kicked off their NPFL campaign with a 2-1 win against Gombe United.
They went ahead through Umar Mohammed’s effort from a freekick in the 19th minute.
Enesi Sani equalised thirty seconds later for Gombe United, while Sadiq Suleiman restored Kada City FC’s lead with a half-volley which proved to be the winning goal.
Kada City FC are now seventh on the log while Gombe United are 11th.
Also, hosts Kano Pillars and Akwa United of Uyo played out a 1-1 draw at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The draw saw Kano Pillars settling in at 5th position, while Akwa United climbed to 9th.
Hosts Go Round FC of Port Harcourt were held to a goalless draw at home to FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi to leave both sides in 4th and 3rd positions respectively.
All the NPFL Match Day 3 results:
GROUP A
Wikki Tourists 2-1 Niger Tornadoes
Kwara United 3-2 Enyimba
Remo Stars 1-1 Insurance
GROUP B
Nasarawa United 0-1 Heartland
Plateau United 2 -0 El-Kanemi
Kano Pillars 1-1 Akwa United
Kada City 2-1 Gombe United
Go Round 0-0 FC IfeanyiUbah.
