Thesocialiga.com wraps up all six matches from what turned out to be a day of few chances and goals at the Legacy Pitch inside the National Stadium, Surulere.
With three matches in hand, Guns FC went into SociaLigaMD8 against already qualified Saints FC hoping to take all three points on offer.
The BulletBoys started like they meant business, on the front foot, and dominated proceedings from start to finish.
However, despite creating the chances to have scored at least on three different occasions, the boys in yellow failed to make their dominance count by taking at least one of the chances.
Led by club legend and striker, Ariyo Abdullahi, Guns were very profligate and perhaps would come to regret it after the Saints held on for a share of the spoils following a goalless draw.
The result does no particular favours for Guns, though with two games to play, they could still find their way into the top four but will need other results to go their way. They remain eighth on the log on six points, four points adrift of the final playoff spot.
For Saints, a brilliant first phase of the season ends with a rather dull display which means they could still lose their top spot to Dannaz who are two points behind and have a game in hand.
Man of the match: Opeyemi (Saints)
Defending champions, Dannaz FC, are through to another playoff after an efficient win over debutants, Alimosho.
Inspired by their top striker, Joshua Obakimi, who bagged a brace, it may not have been a vintage performance by the champions but it was enough to see off the spirited Alimosho side.
Alimosho started positively but found themselves 1-0 behind at the break courtesy of a penalty kick calmly dispatched by Obakimi.
After the break, the champions turned on the heat and doubled their advantage, that man, Obakimi, again with a wonderful header off a corner kick to seal all three points and a place in the playoffs.
Danny Nazzal’s men move to 15 points, two behind leaders Saints with a game left to play.
For Alimosho, their second loss of the season sees them drop out of the playoff spot to fifth on nine points, just one behind Raineri FC with a game in hand.
Man of the match: Obakimi (Dannaz)
The Cubs are closer to their goal this season – a place in the next phase- but were made to dig deep to beat off competition from the stubborn Royals FC.
It was a day for the Demijis as Demiji Apo and Ronaldo netted in either half to give the OurPride club, who had Somto sent off for much of the game, a much-needed victory and three points.
With Cubs looking comfy-ly home and dry with a 2-0 lead, the Royal Army piled on the pressure to pull one back thanks to their captain, Sly.
That goal set up an interesting final ten minutes as the Royalties pushed for the elusive equaliser which didn’t arrive and Cubs held on for a crucial win.
Cubs move up to third on the log on 11 points with the victory, four ahead of Royals who occupy the seventh position on the Liga table.
Man of the Match: James
For the second successive matchday, Citizens Football Club failed to make their dominance count as they lost 1-2 to Raineri FC.
It was the final game of the day with both sides separated by just a point heading into MD8.
Citizens dominated the game at the Legacy Pitch but nearly they say doesn’t kill a bird as the Proud Citizen were undone by a clinical Raineri side led by top scorer, Oliseh Esumeh.
Midway into the opening half, Raineri found themselves ahead when Oliseh let fly a fierce effort from just outside the box and into the top left corner to put them 0-1 up at the break.
After the restart, with Citizens pushing for the leveller, Raineri capitalised on the spaces left behind to double their advantage against the run through the outstanding Jesse who finished off a dangerous counter-attack.
Citizens pulled one back late on via right-back, Womzy, but it as rather too late to inspire an unlikely comeback.
With the result, Citizens drop remain sixth on eight points, while Raineri move into playoff spot (fourth) with the victory on 10 points.
Man of the match: Jesse (Raineri)
