Pillars down Rangers with last-gasp winner

By . | Publish Date: Feb 21 2016 9:45PM | Updated Date: Feb 21 2016 9:47PM

Wasteful Kano Pillars came from a goal down to beat an impressive Enugu Rangers 2-1 in an opening day match of the Nigeria premier league on Sunday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
New signing Chiemaka Madu gave Rangers an unlikely lead when he headed home off a superb cross from the right by Osas Okoro in the 50th minute.

However, skipper Gambo Mohammed restored parity in the 77th minute, when he coolly slotted home from inside the box after the persistence of substitute Adamu Hassan.
In stoppage time, Prince Aggreh crowned his Pillars debut with the match winner when he cut in from the left before he let fly and send the capacity crowd into wild jubilation.
Godwin Aguda fluffed the two biggest chances of the day including one in the first half when he was one-on-one with Pillars goalkeeper Yusuf Mohamed, who made himself big to deny the Rangers striker.
The other was in the 75 minute, when he waltzed through the Pillars defence, but his shot from six yards crashed against the foot of the post and the rebound was fired over the bar.
Home team Pillars, who gave debuts to six new signings, took the game to Rangers and they also bossed the possession.
In the other matches played yesterday, league defending champions Enyimba of Aba lost 0-1 away Rivers United. A second half free kick goal by Frederick Obomate was all the Port-Harcourt side  needed to shot down the champions at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
In Ibadan, Kingsley Eduwo scored the lone goal of the match as visiting Lobi Stars claimed all the three maximum points over his former club Shooting Stars, while hosts Sunshine Stars were forced to a 1-1 draw by Akwa United.
Afolabi Okiki gave hosts Sunshine the lead after 12 minutes, before Friday Ubong drew Akwa level in the 24th minute.
Akwa were reduced to 10 men after Godpower Igudia was sent off after a second booking in the second half.
Also yesterday, Giwa lost 1-0 in Jos to visiting FC IfeanyiUbah, while Ikorodu United drew 1-1 with Abia Warriors. Wikki defeated hosts El-Kanemi 1-0 in Katsina and Warri Wolves played out a 0-0 draw at Heartland.