21 February 2011
Sunshine Stars kept alive their hopes of a first-ever Nigeria Premier League conquest with a 3-0 demolition of last seasons runners-up Kano Pillars.
The big home win by the Akure club ensured they stayed in touch with league leaders Dolphin as they now have 32 points from 16 matches, four points behind the Port Harcourt outfit.
Petite midfielder Ajani Ibrahim also shot ahead in the goals race when he notched his eighth goals as early as the fifth minute for the opening goal against Pillars.
Im delighted to score again. I hope to score more goals, celebrated the 20-year-old Ibrahim.
Nigeria B international midfielder Cletus Itodo then netted a second half brace, which included a free kick goal, to give Sunshine Stars full marks from this high-profile fixture.
Pillars officials blamed their crash to a congestion of fixtures which have included matches in CAF Champions League.
We are overworking the first team, who have had to play not only our league games but also our continental matches. We need to improve our squad so that our key players will not suffer from fatigue, Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa told MTNFootball.com.
Warri Wolves climbed to third spot on the table courtesy of a 1-0 home victory over Niger Tornadoes.
Defensive midfielder Emmanuel Omodiagbe was the match winner as Warri Wolves have now recorded 29 points.
Enugu Rangers were also one of the biggest winners of this weekend after they won their first away match this season with a 1-0 win over sinking Crown FC.
They are now fourth on 26 points and just ahead of Kaduna United by virtue of having scored more goals thus far after United thumped visiting Gombe United 3-0 on Sunday.
Emma Bivan opened scoring for Kaduna United before two former Ranch Bees stars, Samson Auta and Michael Anthony, made victory certain.
Defender Anthonys effort was a freak goal as his attempted pullout found its way into the Gombe net.
But the eye-catching individual performance this weekend will be Christopher Chigozies hat-trick for Ocean Boys against Zamfara United in Yenagoa.
Chigozie stole the show last weekend by getting a goal and providing three assists as the 2006 champions mauled bottom team JUTH FC.
And on Sunday, he moved several gears up by grabbing three goals against a Zamfara side that appeared to be ready to fight when they cancelled Chigozies 13th minute opener through John Thomas after 17 minutes.
Both goals were powerful blasters from top of the box that gave the goalkeepers very little chance.
Chigozie got his second goal on 51 minutes from a free kick taken inside the box which sizzled into the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Olabisi Adewunmis goal.
The Ocean Boys youngster completed his hat-trick in stoppage time off a rebound after the Zamfara failed to hold on to a hot shot fired by Michael Andrew.
Zamfara are the team to stop us, boasted Ocean Boys coach, Larry Eceli.
We have peaked after a poor start and now I want to get us a continental ticket.
Zamfara coach, Alhassan Mohammed, admitted his team are now in real danger of being relegated from the top flight.
Were in danger and now need to sign new players to fortify the team, said Mohammed, whose team are now fourth from bottom on 15 points.
We suffered from losses of concentration and the goalkeeper gifted them the second goal.
Heartland moved into the top half of the standings on the back of a 2-1 win against Plateau United at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
Bello Kofarmata scored first for the hosts in the 58th minute, before B international Osas Okoro banged his fourth goal of the campaign on 70 minutes.
Plateau United pulled a goal back five minutes from time through Stanley Dimgba.
The Naze Millionaires now have 23 points, while Plateau remain second from bottom with 10 points.
Lobi Stars improved their chances of beating the drop after a 15th minute penalty goal gave them the maximum points against visiting Shooting Stars in Jalingo.
