December, 21 2023.
Thursday's action, on Match Day 15 of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) witnessed a flory of late goals, including the two netted by hot shot, Alimi Sikiru.
Sikiru scored on the stroke of 90 minutes and 7th minute of added time, to guide Remo Stars to a hard-fought 2-0 defeat of Lobi Stars of Makurdi, at their Ikenne-Remo stadium.
The encounter which saw the two top dogs, who along with Doma United FC of Gombe, have in the past few weeks alternated, the NPFL top spot; give the match their all, and appeared to have settled for a draw, before Sikiru turned on the style, and struck in the 90th minute, with the first goal.
He then made it 2-0 for the Sky Blues, who left it late to defeat Lobi Stars 2-0; and the dramatic victory earned them the 3 points on offer, and swift return to the summit of the log on 29 points; one point clear of Doma United FC, while Lobi Stars stayed 3rd on 26 points.
Doma United had temporarily sat at the top of the log for 24 hours, thanks to a 1-0 defeat handed Heartland of Owerri, at the Pantami Stadium, in Gombe, on Wednesday.
Still talking about the Pantami Stadium, Mujeed Odufeso goal on 76 minutes, was all Gombe United needed to edge Katsina United 1-0, in Thursday's early kicks-off.
Likewise, Evans Ogbonda's 7th min goal for Bendel Insurance was the difference, as the Benin Arsenal defeated Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Hat-trick hero on MD-14, Albert Hillary continued his fine scoring form by netting in the 19th min for Plateau United, against Kwara United in Ilorin.
But the tide changed in favour of the hosts, after Yakubu Adam was ejected in the 35th min after receiving a second yellow. Kabiru Balogun then made it 1-all in the 72nd min, before United Sad'eeq Yusuf Ahmat scored in the 89th minute to give the Afonja Warriors an unlikely 2-1 win.
The sides however ended the match with ten men apiece, as Sad'eeq was shown the Red Card 2 min into stoppage time, for a second cautionable offence.
Robert Mizo 24th minute goal for Bayelsa United, was on the verge of giving the struggling Yenagoa-based side, an improbable road win, until Kehinde Lawal was sent off for a second cautionable offence, 18 minutes from time.
Sporting then capitalized on their one man numerical advantage, to force an equalizer 3 minutes into stoppage time, thanks to Aliu Salawudeen's well taken goal.
The story was almost the same at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, in Kaduna; where Bashiru Usman's solitary strike on 90+3 minutes, have Niger Tornadoes a 1-0 victory over visiting Kano Pillars; www.ckdmedia.ng reports.
There was another late goal on Wednesday, as Kazeem Ogunleye netted an 87th minute equalizer for Rangers Int'l FC of Enugu, away to reigning champions, Enyimba Int'l FC, as the Oriental Classic played at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba ended 1-1.