A BRACE from Ibrahim Yuga as well as other goals from captain Rabiu Ali, Auwalu Ali and Mustapha Umar saw former champions Kano Pillars hand visiting Sunshine Stars a heavy 5-1 defeat at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts wasted no time in the match-day 21 encounter, taking the lead as early as five minutes and they were already three up at halftime.
Yuga completed his brace in the 52nd minute and Umar added the fifth three minutes later before Promise Awosanmi scored Sunshine Stars consolation goal in the 81st minute – his second goal for the club in two consecutive games.
Without a win in their last five games, Sunshine Stars now find themselves in the relegation zone with 23 points from 21 matches.
In Eket, Akwa United’s struggles in the relegation zone continued as they lost 1-0 at home against Bayelsa United. Second half substitute Ofem Eyong scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute and they were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time after the sending off of Oluwasegun Adekunle for a second bookable offence.
Thanks to a second half goal by Kumagar Sur, Lobi Stars defeated bottom-placed Heartland 1-0 in Lafia to extend their lead provisionally on the table to three points.
At the Pantami Stadium, Gombe United won their first game in five matches with a 2-0 win over Sporting Lagos, just as Niger Tornadoes beat Abia Warriors 1-0.
The only stalemate recorded on Sunday saw 3SC force Plateau United to a goalless draw at the New Jos Stadium.
