SEVEN-TIME champions Enugu Rangers have returned to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League table following a 2-0 win over a winless Heartland in the Oriental Derby, just as Doma United also thrashed Gombe United 3-0 in the Savannah Derby on Sunday.
Playing their home matches at the Awka Township Stadium, Rangers, led by Fidelis Ilechukwu, continue to enjoy a smooth campaign in the league with their fourth win in six matches while they also have a game at hand.
The Flying Antelopes stormed into an early lead in the fixture against Heartland courtesy of Kazeem Ogunleye before Kenneth Igboke added the second in the 57th minute.
The win sees Rangers return to the top with 13 points from six matches, leading 3SC, who also beat Niger Tornadoes 4-1 in Ibadan by goal difference on the table.
Ernest Chidi levelled matters for Tornadoes after Ayobami Adekunle had opened the scoring for 3SC before halftime while Ayodeji Bamidele, Gbolagade Adelowo and Kareem Ayinde were on target in the second half to win the game convincingly for Gbenga Ogunbote’s side.
In Gombe, it was an all-Emmanuel affair for Doma United who recorded a massive 3-0 victory over Gombe United in the Savannah Derby in front of a packed Pantami Stadium. Emmanuel Ekpeyong broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute and Emmanuel Jesam added the second two minutes later before rounding up scoring with his second of the game in the closing stages.
The result moves Doma one place up on the table, taking their points tally from four to seven in five games with two games at hand.
Elsewhere in Umuahai, Ibrahim Dehinde scored a brace in the first half for Abia Warriors to guide them to a 2-1 win over Katsina United. Azeez Falolu was on target for the visitors’ consolation.
Meanwhile, a first-half penalty from Chijioke Mbaoma was enough for Enyimba to beat Kwara United 1-0 in Aba to pick up their second win of the season just as Ismael Sarki scored the only goal in Bendel Insurance’s 1-0 win over Remo Stars.
In other games, 2021 champions Akwa United continued to struggle after they were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Plateau United just as Sunshine Stars and Rivers United also played out a 1-1 draw in Port Harcourt. Sunshine Stars were on course for a priceless away win over the former champions after Duke Osimaga scored for them in the 52nd minute but summer signing, Alex Oyowah came up with a stoppage-time goal to ensure a share of the spoils.
Match-day seven actions will be completed on Monday (today), with a cracker between Sporting Lagos and Kano Pillar at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, while Bayelsa United will host Lobi Stars at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
