Lobi Stars FC yesterday in the main bowl of The Aper Aku Stadium in an NPFL match nr 117, Day 12 lived up to the match preview as the subdued and dim the Sunshine Stars FC Akure.
The game kicked off at 4:01 off the foot of Sunshine Stars Suleiman Mohammed and was quickly taken over by Lobi Stars and sustained early minutes pressure sequentially, Ebube Duru break loose from the left but in his attempt to deliver his trade mark pull out, lost balance and shot wide.
In the 6th minute, Lobi Stars got a free kick, the result of the free kick gave Samad Kadiri a goal possibility but unfortunately shot against the foot of a Sunshine defender in to corner kick. A short corner kick gave another opportunity but Ayagwa Raphael again shot against the foot of a quick Sunshine defender.
Ebube Duru break through the left flank in the 9th minute but his hard strike across the goal was intercepted by Sunshine Alimi Jamiu who was doing a jumbo job for the.the visiting team (Sunshine Stars).
Quick inter-passes from the midfield, Samad Kadiri got a chance but in his attempt to finish was tripped by a Sunshine defender but the referee overlooked what seemed to be
In the 16th minute, Douglas Achiv, Abdulkareem Mumini and Tiza Samuel clinical build up ended with a pull out off the foot of a constantly overlapping Lobi Stars FC left full back Ebube Duru but the ball went out of reach of his finishing line mates.
18th minute, Chinedu Udeagha received a pass from a throw in and power home a 25 metre blinder but was parried in to corner Kick by Sunshine goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo.
Sunshine Stars were occasionally daring with good display that ranked them the most clinical and challenging opponent of Lobi Stars in the main bowl of The Aper Aku Stadium this season by my personal reckoning.
Sunshine Stars reliable defender Alimi Jamiu received a yellow card as penalty for using excessive force. Time and again Lobi Stars’ concerted efforts to get a goal were thwarted by the excellent defensive work of Sunshine Stars.
A 29th minute set up by Chinedu Udeagha for Abdulkareem Mumini whose quick shot was was blocked by Sunshine’s Bright Akojubweumo. One minute later Tiza Samuel took a run down the left side, his cut to measure delivery was half-volleyed in to the waiting hands of goalkeeper Leke Ojo.
It took a brilliant effort from Lobi Stars’ Goalkeeper Ocheje Moses in the 41st minute brilliant place of Sadeeq Yusuf when the later break through from the inside left position and came face with with Ocheje.
45+2 Lobi Stars got a free kick, taken by Chinedu Udeagha but was blocked in to corner kick, the corner kick well taken was headed in to the waiting hands of goalkeeper Ojo of Sunshine Stars. A quick restart almost gave Sunshine the opening goal when Ocheje almost gave out a goal out of carelessness when he received a back pass and kick against an onrushing Sunshine attacking player, the referee sounded his whistle for halftime. Score at halftime Lobi 0-0 Sunshine.
Upon resumption, Austin Ogunye took over from home boy Tiza Samuel in the 47th minute. One minute in to the game, new entrant Austin Ogunye in his usual hard fighting and quick advancement in front of goal dangerously break through the right side. It took a yellow carded offence from Olulayo Seun to stop him.
Alimi Jamiu’s rough tackle in 51st minute in a bid to stop Samad Kadiri at the edge of the penalty area earned him a red card from a second cautionable offence after Kadiri was clinically set up by Douglas Achiv and was headed for a goal. The resultant free kick was taken by Chinedu Udeagha but was headed out of dander by a Sunshine defender.
Akande Tope of Sunshine Stars took over from Sadeeq Yusuf.
A 61st classical build up from the trio of Chinedu Udeagha, captain Ayagwa Raphael ended with Lazarus John whose thunder cross was too fast for his on coming front line team mates. Lobi Stars were getting more dangerous on the offensive but Sunshine resisted and frustrated every effort of Lobi Stars.
Sunshine Stars introduced Omaka Anthony in place of Suleiman Mohammed in 67th minute. Coach Gbenga Ogunbote have to add bite by also introducing Tamara Ezekiel for Achiv. Tamara’s inclusion was really justified as pressure pied on Sunshine Stars.
72 minutes of play, Ebube Duru’s forceful strike at goal went over the cross bar. Six minutes later Lobi Stars Samad Kadiri got a yellow card for a tackle that seemed harmless.
Lobi Stars got a free kick at the edge of the penalty area in 81st minute when Chinedu Udeagha was brought down in the course of his effortless dribbles in front of goal, left full back Ebube Duru Clinically converted the direct free kick for goal number 1 for Lobi Stars.
It became attack and counter attack as Sunshine break away from the defensive and delay tactics after the goal. Sunshine Coach was given a yellow card for unsporting behaviour in the 85th minute when John Lazarus was brought down close to Sunshine technical area.
Lobi Stars ace defender Adeleye Aniyikaye got a yellow card for stopping Sunshine attacking player by foul means in the 86th minute.
Lobi Stars ended their substitution chances in the 89th minute when Udochukwu Anumudu took over from the scorer of the first goal left full back Ebube Duru.
90+1, Chinedu Udeagha was brought down almost in the same spot that earned Lobi Stars the free kick that was converted to a goal, this time the stout defending effort of Sunshine stopped the ball and advanced in to Lobi Stars defence, and interception by Ayagwa Raphael who relaunched a counter Attack by setting up for fast forward Lobi Stars Austin Ogunye whose cross gave Lobi Stars the second goal scored by wonder boy and last season NNL highest goal scorer Abdulkareem Mumini.
Sunshine Stars unjustifiably protested the second goal for reasons I personally can’t explain and refused restarting the ball until the 2 minutes added time elapse. Full time Lobi Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars.
By this result Lobi Stars are 21 points on the league ladder but the position remained unchanged as plateau United made a mince meat of Enyimba Int’l Aba 4-0 in Jos to maintain the first place at the moment.
Lobi Stars vs Sunshine Stars
Lobi Stars List
1. Ocheje Moses- 31
2. John Lazarus – 2
3. Ebube Duru – 3
4. Ayagwa Raphael-13
5. Adeleye Aniyikaye – 4
6. Governor Ernest – 15
7. Tiza Samuel- 8
8. Abdulwasiu Mahmud- 8
9. Samad Kadiri-14
10. Douglas Achiv – 16
11. Chinedu Udeagha- 19
Subs
12. James Faith-31
13. Kwambe Solomon-18
14. Nzube Anaezemba- 26
15. Anumudu Udochukwu- 35
16. Sibi Gwar- 30
17. Ogunye Austin
Coach- Gbebga Ogunbote
Sunshine List
23. Olorunleke Ojo
16. Ebuka Akobundu
6. Seun Olulayo (C)
33. Bright Akpojubweuvwo
3. Jamiu Alimi
20. Ikenna Hilary
13. Jide Fatokun
32. Fuad Ekelojuoti
30. Ogunniyi Omo Jesu
9. Sadeeq Yusuf
25. Mohammed Suleiman
Subs
21. Saliu Suleiman
10. Sunday Abe
31. Tope Akande
14. Anthony Omaka
36. Ayo Adejubu
11. Silas Nwankwo
38. Uche Ihuarulam
