Fuad Ekelojuoti’s late goal rescued Sunshine Stars from the jaw of a home defeat in the team’s last NPFL match of the decade with Dakkada FC on Sunday.
The Akure landlords head into the match day 11 tie looking to respond to the recent disappointments against MFM and Rivers United with a home win against the good travellers.
However they were stunned in the first-half following a sloppy defending that allowed the visitors to set up Femi Ajayi who fired home in the 43′.
Before then the hosts could have gained the lead deservedly, first in the 12′ through Ogunniyi Omo Jesu whose goal-bound curling effort was tipped over, while Rilwan Sadiq grazed the woodwork in front of goal off a superb Israel Abia’s ball from the byline.
In the 65′ Abia connected a low cross whiped in by second-half substitute, Silas Nwankwo, but could not stirred on target in front of goal as Sunshine Stars continued to lay siege to Dakkada’s area.
It could all have been safe and secured for the away side 15 minutes from time, but thanks to Saliu Suleiman who kept the homers in the contest with a terrific save from point-blank.
In the 80′ the marauding Omo Jesu was denied a certain leveller with a stunning save, five minutes before Dakkada FC were reduced to 10-man following Ifegwu Ojukwu’s off the ball assault on Tunde Abisoye.
The Owena Whales earned a shared of the spoils through Ekelojuoti who bundled in from a prolong goalmouth melee in added time and helped preserved the unbeaten home run of Sunshine Stars in the 2019/20 season.
With the result, Sunshine Stars dropped a place to 7th on the log with 16 points and next play Lobi Stars in Makurdi on match day 12.
Sunshine XI Suleiman, Abe, Zikiye (Adejubu 79′), Adeyemi, Abisoye; Fatokun, Sadiq (M. Suleiman 46′), Omojesu; Adebayo (Nwankwo 46′), Abia, Ekelojuoti
Unued Subs Ojo, Obasi, Akande, Hilary
