NPFL Matchday 20: Four things learnt last weekend
By
Olusola Adebayo
The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) returned with matchday 20 over the weekend with nine matches played across the country.
Here are the four takeaways from the games as the second half of the topmost football competition in the country is back with a bang.
Plateau United's unbeaten run gone
Perhaps the biggest news from the NPFL is the halt to the 11-match unbeaten run by Plateau United as they fell to Kolade Adeniji's 78th-minute goal thus helping Sunshine Stars of Akure to a 1-0 victory over the Jos based team.
The last time the Fidelis Ilechukwu boys lost a match in the NPFL was on 9 January 2022 against Remo Stars in Ikenne by 1-0.
They went on to rack up 9 victories in the last 12 matches played, going through the whole of February and March undefeated in the league.
The feat is keeping them in the title race as there are two points behind the leader, Rivers United on 43 and 41 points respectively.
Poor returns from away trips
Another talking point was the poor results churned out by the away teams. 8 Out of the 9 matches played this weekend ended in victories for the home teams.
Only Remo Stars was able to score among all the losing away teams as Kwara United came from behind to defeat the Soname boys by 2-1.
All other losing teams recorded no goal while Rivers United pulled a 1-1 draw away to Akwa United.
A total of 13 goals were scored with just two of them coming from away teams.
Continental Door Thrown Wide Open
The continental door is still wide open as none of the top 4 teams going into the matchday won their game.
The direct battle for the continent between Kwara United and Remo Stars ended in a 2-1 victory for the Afonja Warriors throwing the fight for the continental ticket open.
While Rivers United and Plateau United have opened up a considerable gap above the rest of the teams, it's a scramble for the tickets among Rangers, Kwara United and Remo Stars as they are on 34, 34 and 32 points respectively placing third, fourth and fifth respectively.
With 18 matches to go, there is still plenty to make it to the continent but it's going to be a serious fight for the third continental slot among these three teams as it is safe to say Rivers and Plateau United are destined to pick the first two continental slots.
MFM climbs a step up as the relegation battle begins
MFM moved a step up on the ladder after their 1-0 victory over direct relegation battle rival Heartland FC in Lagos after many weeks at the bottom of the table.
The Olukoya boys ended the first stanza at the rock bottom of the log despite losing only one of their last five matches leading to the end of the first stanza.
The victory took the church boys to 20 points same points as Heartland to leapfrog the Owerri based team on goal difference.
It is worthy to state that only four points separated Kano Pillars (24 points) currently placed 13 and Heartland (20 points) at the bottom of the log, hence the journey to escaping relegation is still far and open for any serious team to survive as there are 18 matches to go, hence the relegation fights has just begun.
The matchday 20 result at a glance
Akwa United 1-1 Rivers United
Enyimba 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Nasarawa Utd 2-0 3SC
Kwara Utd 2-1 Remo Stars
Lobi Stars 2-0 Rangers
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Plateau Utd
Gombe Utd 1-0 Kano Pillars
MFM 1-0 Heartland
