It was all drama at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Stadium in the match between the visiting team, Enyimba International Football Club and Rangers International of Enugu.
The high tempo game which drawn football supporters from various States of the Southeast was played on Sunday.
However, the game which was headed for a goalless draw witnessed a drama. The match was abandoned deep into stoppage time as a result of fans invasion.
With the game still goalless in added time, centre referee John Ojeleye awarded the home side a penalty. But the Enyimba fans were alleged to have invaded the pitch in protest, thereby, the Peoples Elephant abandoning the match.
Until the fracas, the match lived up to its pre-match hype as fans thronged the Cathedral for the potential title decider.
Just like the reverse fixture in Aba ended in a draw, both sides were unable to breach each other’s defences until the drama.
With the truncation of the match, the title race remains as it were. Rangers still in the lead with 62 points, while Enyimba followed with 60 points.
While both teams will now have to wait for the decision of the League Board to determine the outcome of the game, many football pundits have taken sides. While some agreed with the call by the centre referee to award a penalty to Rangers, others insisted was no penalty.
Whatever the result of the decision of the League Board, its outcome will be potentially damaging for either side.
Both teams still have three league games to go and how they thrive in the remaining matches will determine their title chances.
In a related development, third-placed Remo Stars suffered another setback in the title race. The team was defeated by Lobi Stars 3-2 in Lafia Nasarawa State. With the result, Lobi Stars are now three points behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.
In Yenagoa, Sporting Lagos settled for a pulsating 2-2 draw with Bayelsa United. Jonathan Alukwu scored a second-half brace for Sporting Lagos. But the goals were cancelled by Bassey John of Bayelsa United who also scored twice.
With the result both teams’ fate, hanging on the balance, with just three matches left to go.
Bayelsa United are inside the relegation zone with 43 points. While Sporting Lagos sits a place just above them with 43 points as well.
Sunshine Stars also swam out of the relegation waters after a 2-0 win over Akwa United in Akure.
In another dramatic game, a 10-man Heartland of Owerri beat Doma United 3-1 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
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