Plateau United have tightened the top three race in the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League after securing a 5-1 win over bottom-placed Heartland in a match-day 22 game in Aba on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The visitors raced to a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes courtesy of Olawale Doyeni and Lawrence Agbor, while Nenrot Silas made it three two minutes after the restart. Victor Makalala and Harrison Ebah completed the rout for the Jos side before Onyekachi Okafor pulled one back for the hosts in added time.
With the win, Plateau United moved up to second in the table and one point behind leaders Lobi Stars with 38 points from 22 games, while Heartland are bottom with 18 points from same number of games and seven points away from safety.
Elsewhere, leaders Lobi failed to extend their lead after falling to a 2-0 defeat against Sunshine Stars in Akure.
In an explosive Northwest derby, goals from Jonas Emmanuel, Azeez Falolu and former Pillars man Nazifi Yahaya helped Katsina United record a 3-2 win over former champions Kano Pillars. Ibrahim Yuga and Mustapha Umar were the goal scorers for Pillars.
In Lagos, mid-season signing Tochukwu Michael came to the rescue of Sporting Lagos again, scoring a brace to ensure they come from a goal down to beat Akwa United 2-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
In other games, Bayelsa United earned back-to-back wins in the NPFL thanks to a 2-0 win over Doma United, just as Kenechukwu Agu’s 56th minute free-kick was the difference between Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Match-day 22 continues on Thursday (today) as Enyimba host Gombe United in Aba, battle-hardened 3SC and Bendel Insurance will also face off in Ibadan, while Abia Warriors welcome Kwara United at their adopted home ground in Aba.
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