Six goals were scored in a thrilling Nigeria Premier League derby between Abia Warriors and Enyimba in Umuahia while league leaders Kano Pillars fell to a second defeat in three matches.
Abia Warriors and Enyimba began the match level on 36 points in fifth and fourth place respectively and there was little to separate both sides in the opening 15 minutes as both sides were awarded a penalty each.
The first penalty went to the Warriors when Enyimba’s Rasheed Olabiyi handled the ball in the area, leaving Chima Uluocha to put the home side ahead after eight minutes.
Enyimba were level only eight minutes later when the Aba Elephants’ top scorer Mfom Udoh converted a penalty awarded after Michael Ibeh handled in the area.
Abia Warriors however restored its lead just two minutes later when Ifeanyi Okoli tapped in from close range after the Enyimba defence failed to clear a loose ball.
But yet again, Enyimba levelled scores through Ugwu Uwadiegwu’s well taken goal in the 35th minute as both sides went into the half-time break with scores at 2-2.
The Aba Elephants then took the lead for the first time in the game after 67 minutes through Olabiyi, who made up for giving away a penalty earlier with the goal.
Mfon Udoh then came close to getting his second and extending Enyimba’s lead six minutes from time, but his effort went off the wrong side of the Abia woodwork.
That chance would be rued when Chisom Chikatara equalised for the home side a minute to the end, to earn Abia Warriors a point from a pulsating encounter.
The result left both sides on 37 points – with Abia maintaining fifth place and Enyimba staying in fourth – three points behind league leaders Kano Pillars that lost 2-1 at Warri Wolves.
Bartholomew Ibenegbu’s 35th minute header put Wolves ahead while Abdul Haruna equalised for Kano Pillars with a header two minutes into the second half.
And with a draw looking to be the result, substitute Joseph Osadiaye won all three points for Wolves with his goal deep in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Nasarawa United failed to take advantage of the result in Warri after losing to a late Bunde Moses penalty at Lobi Stars, dropping to third place with 38 points.
Dolphins went up to second place, ahead of Nasarawa on goal difference and two points behind Kano Pillars, after coming away from Akure with a point from a goalless draw against Sunshine Stars in a match that saw Sunshine miss a penalty.
Other results saw Heartland beat Gombe United 2-0 in Owerri, Rangers won by a lone goal at home to Giwa FC while Peter Ebimobowei scored a hattrick for Bayelsa United in the 3-0 win over Kaduna United in Benin.
Matchday 24 Results
Abia Warriors 3-3 Enyimba – Umuahia
Akwa United 1-0 El-Kanemi Warriors – Uyo
Bayelsa United 3-0 Kaduna United – Benin City
Crown FC 2-0 Sharks – Ogbomosho
Heartland 2-0 Gombe United – Owerri
Lobi Stars 1-0 Nasarawa United – Makurdi
Rangers 1-0 Giwa FC – Enugu
Sunshine Stars 0-0 Dolphins – Akure
FC Taraba 1-1 Nembe City – Jalingo
Warri Wolves 2-1 Kano Pillars – Warri