Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan put their promotion bid back on track with a dramatic 2-1 win over hard fighting Giant Briller FC of Enugu, sports247.ng learns.
The pulsating encounter was about ending in a stalemate when substitute Ahmed Rasheed slotted home the ball right with the last kick of the game, Tosin Omojola affirms.
The tension soaked encounter saw the Oluyole Warriors falling back on experience to curtail the highly disciplined Briller.
The Ibadan soccer lords, needing victory to win back the heart of their fans after the 1-1 home draw against Abia Comets, came into the match with the desired zeal to win.
Coach Edith Agoye paraded a strong squad with Lucky Jimoh in between the post, ably covered by the defence line made up of of skipper Waheed Omololu, Abey Benson, Isiaka Mutiu, Taiwo Muritala and Nurudeen Amodu.
The midfield was packed with Mohammed Akilu, Gbadamosi Fatai and Ayobami Junior while Aderemi Yusuf doing the job upfront as the pointman with support from Opeoluwa Olufemi.
The homers did not hide their intentions to shock the Stars as they created the most of the chances in the first 45 minutes
Goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh was the busiest in the first half as highly mobile Brillers’ forward pressed for a goal.
Shooting Stars made ocassional forays into the opponents dangerous area with Ayobami Junior being the host’s tormentor in chief.
The first half ended goalless as neither of the two sides could get the breakthrough.
The second half started with the Oluyole Warriors raising their game, attacking the host for the opener which still refused to come
There were injury fears for the Shooting Stars with skipper Omololu removed after sustaining a head injury while Taiwo Muritala was also forced out due to injury.
Omololu was replaced by Olawale Mutiu while Muritala’s place was taken by Shittu Taiwo.
The breakthrough finally came for the visitors in the 79th minute when Opeoluwa Olufemi lashed on a rebound to put the ball at the back of the net.
The Stars had about three begging chances later to seal up the game but were unable to utilise those chances.
They paid dearly for it when referee Ogbomo Asosa awarded a penalty kick to Brillers’ in the 96th minutes, adjuged that a Briller striker was tripped in the box
Goalkeepers’s Lucky Jimoh was beaten via the resultant penalty thus giving the host the leveller.
However, there was a dramatic climax to the energy sapping encounter ssubstitute, Ahned Rasheed, after being put through by a classical pass from Gbadamosi Fatai, raced through Briller’s backline before placing the ball beyond the reach of the homers’ goalkeeper to secure a valuable win on the road for the Oluyole Warriors.
The 2-1 win over Giant Briller was a perfect response to a disappointing start to the season which sparked up fans anger while the winning goal scorer, Ahmed Rasheed atoned for his penalty miss in the game against Abia Comets.
With the victory, Shooting Stars are now joint toppers of the Group B1, having four points same as Abia Comets who defeated Bayelsa United 2-0.
Comets are on top with a better goal advantage of plus two while whilehave plus one.
Bayelsa United dropped to third position with three points while both Giant Briller and Osun United havno point to stay bottom of the group.
NNL Match Day 2 (Two)
RESULT
A1
Bye – Kada City FC ( Delta Force)
EFCC FC 1– 0 Malunfashi FC
21-04-19
Kaduna Utd – NAF FC
A2
Bye – Jigawa GS
FC Yarmalight 2 – 0 FC Zamfara
FC Taraba 2 – 1 Kogi Utd
A3
Bye – Road Safety FC
Bimo SC 1- 1 Rarara FC Katsina
Real Stars 1 – 0 Green Beret
A4
Mighty Jets 3 – 1 Aklosendi Int’l
Sokoto Utd 1 – 0 Adamawa Utd
Giordano FC 0 – 0 ABS FC
B1
Bye – Osun Utd
Abia Comets 2 – 0 Bayelsa Utd
Giant Brillers FC 1 – 2 3SC
B2
Jossy FC Owerri 1 – 0 De Sapele Lions
36 Lion 1 – 2 Stationery Stores
Akwa Starlets 2 – 1 J’Atete FC
B3
Bye – Ekiti Utd
Dynamite FC 0 – 0 Gateway Utd
Nnewi Utd 2 – 0 Rovers Utd
B4
Bye – Lamray FC Enugu
21-04-19
Ibom Youths FC – WLBC FC
Crown FC – Warrior Wolves FC
