Monday, July 04, 2011

NPL wrap for Week 30

Seventeen goals were scored on Matchday 30 of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in which one of the games recorded an away win. Only five results were correct including one exact score in our predictor’s forecast. Here are the round up of all ten games at the weekend:

Kwara United 3 – 2 Sunshine Stars
Definitely the game of the week, and it lived up to its billing producing five goals with an end-to-end display. Super Sand Eagles' captain, Isiaka Olawale, put Kwara United ahead from the spot on the half-hour mark. Cameroonian Medrano Tamen put Sunshine Stars level ten minutes later. The league leaders, Sunshine Stars went in front through Atanda Sakibu on 68 minutes before Olawale restored parity on 74 minutes. Winger Anthony Okemiri grabbed the winner for the hosts with eight minutes left to move them into ninth place on 46 points while Sunshine Stars remain top with 57 points.
Our prediction: 2 – 1

Sharks 2 – 1 Plateau United
The hosts got an early scare in this game when Kelly Paul scored for the away side on five minutes. Sharks still suffering from a four-game winless run got a lifeline from left-back Juwon Oshaniwa 12 minutes later before Mamaya Yusuf scored the winner on 25 minutes. The Blue Angels are now sixth on the log with 47 points while Plateau United remain in relegation with 27 points after 30 games.
Our prediction: 2 – 0

Gombe United 0 – 0 Enyimba
Enyimba secured a vital draw on the road at Gombe United on Sunday to continue their climb into the summit of the topflight. The holders are now nine points behind the leaders in the NPL table while Gombe United are 13th with 39 from 30 matches.
Our prediction: 1 – 0

Niger Tornadoes 2 – 0 3SC
Sibi Gwar and Daniel Etor continued their goal-scoring run for Niger Tornadoes in the game against struggling 3SC. Both goals for Tornadoes came inside the second half and in the space of 20 minutes to break the resistance of the Oluyole Warriors, now six points above the drop zone. Tornadoes are 11th with 42 points after 30 games.
Our prediction: 2 – 0

Crown FC 1 – 0 Ocean Boys
It appears that Crown FC will have to rely on the experience of Gabriel Agu to remain in the topflight in their first season. He got the winner for the Ajilete Valiant against Ocean Boys still searching for their first point on the road this season. Crown FC are just five points away from safety and coincidentally, Ocean Boys are five points above the drop.
Our prediction: 1 – 1

Heartland 2 – 0 Dolphins
A goal in each half from Chibuzor Ozurumba and substitute Okey Nwadike denied Dolphins the chance to go top of the table in Owerri on Sunday. Dolphins played with the handbrakes in this game, as the Naze Millionaires moved ten points off relegation but remain in the bottom half of the log. On the other hand, Dolphins remain tied on 57 points with leaders, Sunshine Stars.
Our prediction: 2 – 1

Enugu Rangers 0 – 1 Kano Pillars
It was a game in which Enugu Rangers did all the play and succumbed to the only chance of the game by Kano Pillars. Musa Musa got the winning goal off a counter-attack to make sure Ladan Bosso’s men cut down the gap between themselves and the league leaders to just four points. Rangers suffered their first loss in 87 home games stretching back to March 2009 and drop to eighth on the log.
(Musa Musa 55’)
Our prediction: 2 – 1

Warri Wolves 1 – 0 Bukola Babes
It is now eight straight games without a win for Bukola Babes in the topfight after losing 0 – 1 at Warri Wolves on Sunday to Efe Yarhere’s seventh minute goal. Bukola Babes are now in danger of finding themselves in the drop zone, as they are six points adrift relegation while Wolves are fourth with 52 points.
Our prediction: 3 – 0

Kaduna United 2 – 0 Zamfara United
Kaduna United are tenth on the log with 45 points after Jude Aneke’s second half brace secured a two-nil triumph over relegation-threatened Zamfara United. But Kaduna United still have a game in hand that could see them climb to sixth provided they win it. Our prediction: 1 – 1

Juth 0 – 0 Lobi Stars
There is no doubting it that Juth are confirmed candidates for the Nigeria National League (NNL) next term following a goalless draw at home to Lobi Stars – the league’s most in-form side. Lobi stretch their unbeaten run to seven consecutive games that have seen them garner 47 points to climb into seventh position. Juth are the basement side of the league log.
Our prediction: 1 – 2

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