NPFL: Nembe Stun Heartland at Home

Heartland FC

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) new boys, Nembe City, on Sunday stunned Cup holders, Heartland 2-1 in their first game of the top flight and on the road.

Nembe City head coach, John Aranka, opted for a 4-5-1 formation and ended up making nonsense of the bookmakers' prediction winning at Heartland, reports superport.com.

Defender Brown Braye put City in front just before the hour mark before youngster Tope Olusesi levelled for the hosts on 71 minutes.

Heartland had hardly settled down after their goal when impressive forward, Samuel Akinbinu stunned the hosts with the winner.

Nembe City have lived up to the toga of dark horses as predicted by supersport.com's 'The Predictor' in this season's preview in only their first campaign in Nigeria's top flight.

Champions, Kano Pillars also grabbed an away win at Wikki Tourists with a late goal from Rabiu Ali's free-kick.

In Ibadan, 3SC wrapped their tie against Gombe United in the first half with goals from Tony Edjomariegwe and Osagona Ighadaro on 17 and 27 minutes respectively.

Akwa United, Sunshine Stars and Bayelsa United recorded home victories with identical scorelines of 1-0 against Dolphins, Kaduna United and Lobi Stars respectively.

The Ilorin derby between ABS and Kwara United produced no goals just like the tie between Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi in Lafia.

Sharks, without their head coach, Austin Eguavoen, who was spotted at the Heartland versus Nembe City game in Owerri, won at home by 2-1 against Warri Wolves.

Obomate Frederick and George Amakiri gave Sharks a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes before Yakubu Hakeem got Wolves' goal on 22 minutes.

On Saturday, Enugu Rangers defeated Enyimba by Bitrus Dada's solitary strike to start the campaign on a winning note in Enugu.