Kano Pillars and Enyimba International Football Club lived up to the billing in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 9 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday.

Hosts Pillars took the lead in the 36th minute courtesy of the league’s top scorer Junior Lokosa, his eighth goal of the campaign.

But they were pegged back four minutes later by the Aba-based Enyimba through Emmanuel Anyanwu’s own goal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both sides are now unbeaten in their last six games in the NPFL.

The hosts remain in the third position on the table, level on points with champions Plateau United who have a game in hand, while Enyimba moved from fifth to fourth.

In Port Harcourt, hosts Rivers United secured a morale boosting 2-0 win against Niger Tornadoes FC of Lokoja.

Chikere Osita opened scoring for the hosts in the 16th minute after he was set up by Bernard Ovoke.

Emeka Ogbugh marked his return to the side, following his participation at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), with a goal as he added the second in the 28th minute.

Rivers United are on ninth position, while Niger Tornadoes slumped five spots down to the bottom of the NPFL 20-team log.

Nasarawa United and Kwara United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Lafia Township Stadium in another Match Day 9 encounter.

Seun Sogbeso put the home side ahead in the 20th minute, while Stephen Alfred equalised for the visitors in the 64th minute.

Nojeem Olukokun scored two quick goals for Nasarawa United to put the scoreline at 3-1.

But Kwara United rallied back with late two goals by Alfred, who has now netted five times for the Harmony Boys this season, and Micheal Ohanu.

NAN also reports that it was the Ilorin clubside’s first away point of the 2017/2018 NPFL season.

The Lafia-based club side are on 16th, while Kwara United are still languishing in the relegation area on 19th position.

Former champions Heartland extended their unbeaten run against Wikki Tourists to eight games after a hard-fought 2-1 win in Owerri.

Abubakar Umar gave Wikki the lead in the 10th minute, while Nnamdi Ebgujor equalised for the Naze Millionaires six minutes later.

Kenneth Ikwugbado scored the winning goal deep into stoppage time.

The Owerri-based Heartland moved three spots up to seventh position, while Wikki Tourists dropped to 13th position.

In Umuahia, Abia Warriors defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3-1 with Ndifreke Effiong bagging two goals for the home team and to take to five his tally for Abia Warriors this season.

Obi Samson scored the other goal for the Umuahia clubside, while Manika Usman netted Yobe Desert Stars’ only goal of the game.

FC IfeanyiUbah’s poor start to the season continued as they were handed a 3-0 defeat by Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.

Eric Dufegha, Tasiu Lawal and Destiny Ashadi were the goal scorers for the “Chanji Boys’’.

Abia Warriors are on 14th position, while Yobe Desert Stars slipped four steps down to 10th on the log.

In another fixture, El-Kanemi Warriors secured a 2-1 win against Go Round FC in Maiduguri.

Bello Kofarmata handed the home team the lead in the 37th minute, while Okon Otop levelled scores a minute before half time, his second of the campaign.

Samuel Mathias missed the chance to restore the hosts’ lead from the penalty kick spot in the 65th minute.

But Nura Mohammed won the game with another penalty kick five minutes before the end of regulation time.

The Maiduguri-based club side leapt out from the bottom of the log to an impressive 15th position.

On the other hand, the league newcomers dropped sixth spots down the log into the relegation zone on 18th.

A total of 23 goals were scored in seven matches played on Match Day 9, with five home wins and two draws recorded.(NAN)