Matchday 22 encounter of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), saw Shooting Stars edged out Bendel Insurance with a 1-0 victory. The winning goal, a header from Taiye Muritala in the 91st minute, ensured that the Oluyole Warriors grabbed all three points at their home ground in Ibadan.
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The match was a closely contested affair with both teams displaying commendable skill and strategy. However, it was the late goal from Muritala that tipped the scales in favor of Shooting Stars. The goal came as a relief to the team and the fans, breaking the deadlock that had persisted throughout the match.
In the post-match conference, Shooting Stars’ coach Gbenga Ogunbote expressed his relief and satisfaction with the result. “Well, I don’t think it’s until the end of the game. They have always thought there is a moment that you can make it happen and thank God it happened,” he said, reflecting on the tense moments towards the end of the match when the result was still standing at 0-0.
Ogunbote also shed light on the tactical changes he made during the match to secure the win. He explained that he noticed in the first half that his team was not showing enough presence in the forward areas. This observation led him to introduce fresh legs and make a change for the second striker, a decision that eventually paid off.
The coach further elaborated on his strategy, “I realised I needed to reinforce the attack because they were playing three man centre back. So we need to have numerical strength. So hence I introduced centre forward. For you to play well, your centre forward must be able to at least, even if you cannot score they should be able to retain the ball, So we were retaining the ball at that point and our midfielders were able to join them.”
Looking ahead to their next match against Gombe United, Ogunbote stated that any changes to the team would be determined by the situation of the game. He emphasized that his decisions are not predetermined but are instead influenced by the dynamics of the match.
The victory over Bendel Insurance has boosted the morale of Shooting Stars, who currently sit at 11th on the NPFL log. With this win, the team has demonstrated their resilience and ability to seize crucial moments. As the league progresses, the Oluyole Warriors will be looking to build on this momentum and climb up the rankings.
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