From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan.
The management and fans of the Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan have heaved a sigh of relief after securing a victory against relegation threatening Sunshine Stars of Akure in an expolsive day 36 of the on going Nigeria Football Professional League,NPFL.
The match played behind close door ,shutting out the fans who were banned from three home matches occasioned by infringement sanctions,handed on the 3SC by the Disciplinary Committee of the top flight league.
Before the game started,minutes silence was offered in honour of the Shooting Stars driver of over 20 years,Maruf Oladepo,a.k.a Warrior who died a few days ago.
The two teams showed determination to improve their standings on the Log,but it was the host that pulled most of the chances in the first half of the breathtaking encounter.
The 3SC team could have rounded up the game in the first half, but the Visitor goal keeper thwarted about four goal bound attempts and pressure.
With the two teams weighing substitution options at the second half after a pulsating first half Zero-Zero goal at piece,pressures were mounted by the Shooting Stars to secure the maximum three points.
Tension arose at the 82nd minutes of the encounter when Sunshine Stars, O.Yusuf dourning jersy number 33 committed a foul against Shooting Stars,N.Nonso at dangerous area,and was penalized.
The resultant penalty was neatly converted by strong man Ikouwerem Utim.
The additional six minutes extra time awarded after the regulation time did not change the outcome of the match.
The win that was coming after a series of losses both home and away matches of the Shooting Stars in the second stanza of the Premier league would boost their chances of ending the league on a respectable stand.
The Wednesday win of the 3SC over the Sunshine Stars would be a succor and placate the angry fans who were fissappointed by their team inability to secure a continental ticket,having recently garnered enough points that put them in tge second position on the table.
In a post-match conference,the Shooting Stars gaffer,Gbenga Ogunbote said despite their victory,his players were affected by anxiety and missing of their fans which denied them the opportunity of rounding off the game in the first half,missing glaring scoring chances.
“I told the players to face the second half with seriousness and calmness, that the goal would come.There was pressure on the visitor, which enabled them to commit a foul that resulted into the penalty”,Ogunbote concluded.
The Sunshine Stars coach Akinfolarin Bobola, however, lamented that the Refree was too harsh on his player having red carded O.Yusuf after a tackle on a Shooting Stars player.
He said a penalty was awarded against his team a few minutes after the red card.
On whether his team would escape relegation,the coach said that the league is a marathon that is still open and that anything can still happen because Niger Tornadoes still played draw game at home the same time,they loss on away soil.
The 3SC still has chances of improving on their performances with two games left to end the season.
They will still play host to the Rangers International football Club ,Enugu at the Lekan Salami Stadium,Ibadan to wrap up the 2025 league season.
End
