31 January 2011
The four-point lead of table-topping Dolphin in the Nigeria Premier League has been cut to only a point after they crashed 2-0 at Ocean Boys Sunday.
Second-placed Sunshine Stars defeated Lobi Stars at home 2-0 and are now within a striking distance of Dolphin.
Dolphin have 27 points from 13 matches, while Sunshine Stars are a point behind.
Surprise package Bukola Babes maintained third spot after Warri Wolves failed to beat Enugu Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. The match finished goalless.
Wolves are now fourth in the standings with 22 points, while Rangers remain in fifth place with 20 points.
Ocean Boys, who lost a player in action this season and have been beset by a cash crisis, were deserved winners against Dolphin in a local derby of sorts.
If we had won 5-0, Dolphin would have had no reason to complain, Ocean Boys spokesman Eddy Ohis boasted to MTNFootball.com
Struggling Ocean Boys simply outclassed the league leaders and could really have won by a bigger margin but for the wastefulness of goal scorer Michael Andrew.
Felix Benjamin put Ocean Boys ahead after 15 minutes when he fired past goalkeeper Afeso Attah from outside the box, before wasteful Andrew doubled the home teams lead off a pullout three minutes before the interval.
In Ijebu-Ode, Sunshine Stars cashed in on this Dolphin slip to beat Lobi Stars with a brace by new NPL hot shot Ajani Ibrahim.
Ibrahim opened scoring in the eighth minute and caused a penalty in the 35th minute when he was fouled by Emeh Sunday after a mazy dribble run for a penalty, which was not converted by Ukeyima Akombo.
Emeh Sunday was sent off for the professional foul, while Lobi top executive Dominic Iorfa brought attention on to himself with his theatrics on the sidelines.
There was even more drama and a tinge of violence after Shooting Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Crown FC in Abeokuta.
Kabiru Alausa came off the subs bench to put 3SC in from on 85 minutes before Crown put away a dubious penalty in stoppage time.
Angry fans vented their frustration on several top Oyo State officials with sports commissioner Ayo Makanjuola worst for it.
3SC are ninth on the table with 18 points, while Crown are third from bottom on 11 points.
There were no goals in a top-of-the-table clash between Rangers and Warri Wolves in Enugu.
Without several top choice strikers, the hosts were forced to line up an ineffective strike force of Musa Najare and Peter Obiora, while Warri, missing national team stars Chigozie Agbim and Ekigho Ehouson, were happy to defend their goal area for most of the game.
Rangers midfielder Ugonna Uzochukwu had to be replaced in the 32nd minute after his shirt was torn to shreds and the team could not get him a spare top. His replacement was Umar Haliru.
Zamfara United eased relegation fears with a lone goal home win over basement team JUTH.
Zamfara are 14th with 15 points, while JUTH are rooted at the bottom with eight points from 10 matches. However, the Jos club could improve their situation if they win two rescheduled matches this week.
