By Adeboye Amosu:
Rivers United upstaged Enugu Rangers at the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League after edging out South South rivals Warri Wolves 3-1 in a keenly contested matchday 35 fixture at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.
Ten-man Enugu Rangers fell 2-1 against traditional rivals Shooting Stars to hand back the initiative to Rivers United who now sit at the top of the log with 56 points, two more than Rangers who have garnered 54 points.
Warri Wolves dominated proceedings in the early part of the game against Rivers United and took a well deserved lead courtesy of Kelvin Itoya's beautiful strike.
The home side however rallied back through Godwin Obinze and Bernard Ovoke who scored in the 34th and 40th minutes, while Guy Kuemian made the points safe after netting the third two minutes before the end of the game.
At the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan 3SC and Rangers finished with 10 men after each having a player sent off in their clash.
After a goalless first half, Ajani Ibrahim sent the home fans into wild ecstasy when he netted the curtain raiser two minutes after the restart.
Rangers were reduced to 10 men when a minute later when Chibuzor Madu was sent off for impeding a 3SC player in the box.
Ifegwu Ojukwu coolly slotted the ball into the net to double the hosts' lead.
It was the turn of the home side to feel the wrath of the centre referee when James Moses got the marching orders in the 67th minute.
Chisom Egbuchulam handed the visitors a lifeline when he pulled a goal back for them three minutes before full time but they were unable to find the leveller.
In Nnewi, FC IfeanyiUbah moved to the third position after a comfortable 2-0 home win against visiting Akwa United.
Ivorian forward Seka Pascal puts his side ahead in the eighth minute when he volleyed home from close range, while Ismaila Gata made sure of the points when he converted from the spot 11 minutes from time.
Wikki Tourists dropped to the fourth position in the table after conceding two late goals against Nasarawa United in Makurdi.
Abdu Makaiba's men looked to be coasting home to victory before Esosa Igbinoba's well struck freekick beat the impressive Emeka Nwabulu on the dot of 90 minutes.
Aminu Kadir scored the winner for the Solid Miners in added time.
In another matchday 35 fixture, relegation-bound Ikorodu United were in imperious form as they trounced former champions Kano Pillars 4-1 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.
Pillars went ahead through Rabiu Ali four minutes after the break.
Ikorodu United however hit back through Micheal Onyelonu who scored a brace and goals by Muyiwa Lawal and Paul Duke.
Ali missed the chance to halve the deficit when he missed a penalty four minutes before regulation time.
Sunshine Stars were also in fantastic form as they handed a 3-1 defeat to Plateau United in Akure.
Dele Olorundare set them on the road for the win when he scored a penalty on two minutes.
Samad Kadiri increased the Owena Waves' lead in the 17th minute, while Kabir Umar pulled one back for the away side in the 51st minute.
Olorundare got his brace when he hit the back of the net from the spot for the second time in the 76th minute.
Champions Enyimba went down to a 1-0 defeat against Niger Tornadoes in Minna with Solomo Owello hitting the winner from the spot 15 minutes before the end of the game.
MATCHDAY 35 RESULTS
Shooting Stars 2 V 1 Enugu Rangers
FC IfeanyiUbah 2 V 0 Akwa United
Sunshine Stars 3 V 1 Plateau United
Rivers United 3 V 1 Warri Wolves
Nasarawa United2 V 1 Wikki Tourists
Ikorodu United 4 V 1 Kano Pillars
Niger Tornadoes 1 V 0 Enyimba
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