Sunshine Stars secured their top-of-the-table berth with a 2-1 defeat of Warri Wolves as Kano Pillars downed Giwa FC, both in a Glo Premier League Match Day 12 encounter on Thursday.
Kingsley Udoh’s match-winning strike in injury time sent fans at the Akure Township stadium into wide celebration and handed Coach Kennedy Boboye’s side a 2-1 win over Warri Wolves.
Bartholomew ‘mosquito’ Ibenebu gave the Seasiders a 12th-minute lead but Stephen Eze restored parity four minutes after the half-hour mark.
Wolves ended the match with ten men after Oke Ogagotwho saw red for a second booking in injury time.
The win means the Akure Gunners now have 23 points from a possible 36 and leads Enyimba International FC by a lone point.
Kano Pillars closed gap between them and the table-toppers with a 4-1 thrashing of Giwa FC.
Rabiu Ali opened scores from the penalty spot after he was awarded a spot kick by referee Mohammed Sule despite going down unchallenged in the box.
Adamu Mohammed doubled Sai Masu Gida’s lead 8 minutes later, when he lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Friday Achimugwu.
Ochende Edoh halved the Jo’s Elephants’ arrears in the 37th minute courtesy of a fantastic header from Charles Henlong’s delivery.
Ali restored the champions’ two-goal cushion two minutes later, again from the penalty spot, but this time having been impeded by defender Ibrahim Akide.
Mohammed capitalised on a goal-mouth scramble to take his own tally for the day to two on 59 minutes as coach Okey Emordi’s men claimed their seventh win of the season.
The win takes the Pyramid city club to within two points of leaders Sunshine Stars after 13 games.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Wikki Tourists secured a 2-1 win away to FC Taraba.
Chinonso Okonkwo and Christian Obiozor both scored for second-placed Enyimba in their 2-0 defeat of Heartland on Wednesday.
Akwa United recorded a 2-1 win over Kwara United at their adopted UJ Esuene stadium-home in Calabar following suspension of its Uyo Township stadium. Goals by Olewezi Johnson and Friday Ubong handed under-pressure coach Zakary Baraje some breathing space, despite Babalola Azeez’s consolation.
Chisom Egbuchulam scored a dying-minute match- winner for Enugu Rangers as they dispatched visiting Abia Warriors also on Wednesday.
Other Glo Premier Results (All Wednesday)
FC Ifeanyiubah 1-0 Dolphins
Sharks 0-0 El-Kanemi Warriors
Bayelsa United 0-0 Shooting Stars
Lobi Stars 2-1 Nasarawa United
