Sporting Lagos earned their first full points in this season’s EUROMATCH Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a commanding 3-0 thumping of city rivals Inter Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Sunday.
It was the first Lagos derby in 10 years, two months and 11 days and Sporting Lagos took initiative within seven minutes when Sodiq Ayoade headed home to open scoring.
Kevwe Iyede won a spot kick off Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt who tripped him in the box, but Uchenna Njoku’s attempt from 12 yards hit the outside of the upright as Inter Lagos passed up the chance to level the score on 21 minutes.
Fourteen minutes into the restart, Aliyu Baba doubled the lead for Sporting Lagos following an interchange of passes with Victor Samuel.
Valentine Ugwu put the icing on the cake in added time after the 90 minutes to ensure Sporting Lagos claimed the bragging rights in the first Lagos derby this season.
Barau FC kept the chase on Doma United at the top with a 3-1 win over Ranchers Bees.
Ahmadu Liman fired the Maliya Boys in front on 29 minutes before Ranchers levelled the score through in-form midfielder Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu 10 minutes to time.
Barau FC then produced a late show by scoring twice in stoppage time through Kennedy Energy Otunuya and Sugau Aliyu to move into second place in the standings with seven points, two behind leaders Doma United.
Bendel Insurance and Kun Khalifat were involved in a six-goal thriller at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with the home side racing into a three-goal lead via goals from Alex Oweilayefa (5′), Suraju Lawal (19′) and Chinedu Nwosu (47′).
Five minutes into the second half, Kun Khalifat missed a spot kick and then got another chance from 11 metres which Uchechukwu Onuoha converted on 68 minutes.
Nwosu netted his brace to restore Bendel Insurance’s three-goal lead before Oghenetega Ebetomame netted a late goal for Kun Khalifat which turned out to be scant consolation in their 4-2 defeat.
Kwara United won their first game of the season in style by defeating Katsina United 3-0. Ali Ferinyaro’s cross-cum-shot was touched into the net by Katsina United goalkeeper Francis Koroma after 35 minutes.
Additional goals from Tosin Olawale and Issa Adeshina Gata on 53 and 64 minutes out the game to bed for the Harmony Boys.
Ikorodu City were seven minutes away from claiming their first away win at Abia Warriors before Emeka Obioma equalized.
City had turned around things in the first half through Ilechukwu Junior (22′) and Akorede Adeoye (31′) after Obioma had opened scoring on 15 minutes for Abia Warriors.
The draw keeps City within five points of the leaders with an outstanding game to play.
The match between Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United was washed out following heavy rain just six minutes to the end.
The score was tied at one all after Jibrin Ibrahim scored in first half stoppage time for Plateau United before Bashir Musa equalized on 84 minutes.
The remaining minutes was concluded on Monday morning. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.