It was a festival of goals in the NPFL at the weekend as Nasarawa United produced a 5-star performance to end Abia Warriors unbeaten run.
A total of 25 goals were scored in eight (8) matches, an average of over 3.1 goals per game in arguably the most entertaining game week in the NPFL21 so far this season.
Minna was the place to be as it produced the most goals after a Silas Nwankwo inspired Nasarawa United proved too good for Warriors in an 8-goal thriller.
Nwankwo was undoubtedly the star of game week 18 as he scored a hat-trick to help the Solid Miners to a 5-3 victory over Imama Amapakabo and his Warriors, putting an end to their 7-match unbeaten run in the the first league.
The opening half of the match was as entertaining as the second, the hosts led twice with goals from Offor Ikenna and Nwankwo. But Warriors came back to level the score through Fatai Abdullahi and Godwin Obaje on both occasions as the first half ended 2-2.
However, two goals in the space of 14 second half minutes from Nwankwo who restored their lead and Chinedum Ohanachom saw United comfortably pull away 4-2 for the first time in the game.
Abdullahi pulled another goal back on 76 minutes for Warriors to bring scores to 4-3 but any chance of leaving with a point soon disappeared when Nwankwo added a fifth goal two minutes later to complete his hat-trick and seal the win and three points.
A superb display of attacking football from the home team sees them move up to fourth on the table on 30 points, six ahead on the Warriors who are 11th.
Uyo and Warri were the other places to produce fireworks as Akwa United and Warri Wolves put three goals past their visitors respectively.
Akwa were too good for Lobi Stars after a brace from the reliable Mfon Udoh led them to a 3-0 win over the Makurdi side at home.
Ikechukwu Nwani was the other scorer for the Promise Keepers who now sit third on the log, while Lobi are 10th.
In Warri, Wolves boosted their relegation battle with a valuable 3-1 win over FCIU, while Rivers United returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over a struggling Sunshine Stars in Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile, league leaders Kwara United proved their title credentials with the only away win recorded on Sunday in the NPFL21.
United defeated their hosts Katsina United 1-2 with another match winning performance from striker, Michael Ohanu.
With the game locked at 1-1, Ohanu sealed on three points at the death when he netted the winner, his third goal in the last two matches for the Ilorin side.
The goal against Katsina took Ohanu’s tally to six (6) this season in the NPFL.
Later, Enyimba International host Dakkada FC in Aba, while Jigawa Golden Stars are at home to MFM FC in the last two matches of the game week.
Full Results
Pillars 2:1 Heartland
Adamawa Utd 0-0 Wikki
Akwa Utd 3-0 Lobi Stars
Plateau 2:1 Rangers
Katsina Utd 1-3 Kwara Utd
Nasarawa Utd 5-3 Abia Warriors
Rivers Utd 1-0 Sunshine
Warri Wolves 3-1 FCIU
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