Enugu Rangers halted Heartland’s impressive 5-game unbeaten run as the Flying Antelopes secured a comfortable 2-0 victory in the Oriental Derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on matchday 13 of the 2020-21 Nigeria Professional Football League.
An early Isaac Loute strike and another by Godspower Aniefok on the stroke of halftime gave Rangers the win and moved them up to third on the log.
Heartland, meanwhile failed to score in a league for the first time in 10 games and are 9th on the log.
Elsewhere, Kwara United reclaimed top spot following a routine 2-0 win against second-from-bottom Warri Wolves in Ilorin with Jude Steven and Michael Ohanu on target.
Erstwhile leaders Kano Pillars dropped a spot after home side Dakkada rallied from two goals to win in a five-goal thriller.
Rabiu Ali’s penalty and a Gerome Hechong goal had put Pillars two goals up inside thirty minutes but Christian Ekong pulled one back for the hosts six minutes before the interval.
Obo Archibong levelled matters three minutes after the break and Isaac George competed the comeback from the spot in the 78th minute to give Dakkada their first win in three games and lift them out of the relegation places on goals difference.
Mfon Udoh was on target as fifth-placed Akwa United followed up their impressive draw at Enyimba with a 3-0 thrashing of Rivers United who drop to 8th.
Bottom side Adamawa United avoided defeats in consecutive games for the first time this season as they held Sunshine Stars to a goalless stalemate in Akure.
13th-placed Sunshine Stars have now failed to win for six straight games.
Samuel Mathias scored a 90th minute winner as 7th-placed Lobi Stars beat 17th-placed Katsina United 2-1 in Makurdi.
Rasheed Ahmed had levelled for the visitors after Chinonso Okoro’s first half opener before Mathias snatched all three points at the death.
FC Ifeanyiubah held visiting Plateau United to a goalless draw in Nnewi and it also ended goalless between Jigawa Golden Stars and Enyimba.
2020-21 NPFL MD 13 Results
Saturday
Abia Warriors 1-0 Wikki
Sunday
Kwara United 2-0 Warri Wolves
FC Ifeanyiubah 0-0 Plateau United
Akwa United 3-0 Rivers United
Jigawa Golden Stars 0-0 Enyimba
Sunshine 0-0 Adamawa United
Dakkada 3-2 Kano Pillars
Lobi Stars 2-1 Katsina United
