Ten men Sunshine Stars recorded their heaviest loss in the 2019/20 NPFL season, following a 3-0 capitulation to Wolves on a wet afternoon at the Warri City Stadium on Sunday.
Sunday Williams opened scoring for the Seasiders in the 19′ with a finish into the bottom right after being sent through from a loose ball minutes before it started pouring down heavily.
It all got compounded for Sunshine Stars when captain, Sunday Abe picked up his second yellow card for a challenge at the sideline, leaving the visitors short of a man in their uphill task.
And at the stroke of half-time, Michael Okoyoh doubled the lead against his former side with a shot that took a slight deflection past goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo during a goalmouth melee.
Sunshine Stars had their best spell of the game in the second period and should have halved the deficit at the hour mark through Anthony Omaka whose effort from a layup inside the area sailed high agonisingly.
Then in the 67′ debutant, Quazeem Obanigba had a trademark grounder tipped over by Godwin Ameh as the Kabiru Dogo charges continued to show character while searching for a goal to get back into the contest.
With five minutes of normal time left to play, Waheed Adebayo weaved through to the byline, but his square ball is cut out desperately with Omaka lurking to tap home.
It finally moved from a bad to worst day for Sunshine Stars when Mark Daniel dinked past on-rushing Ojo against the run of play to hand the Owena Whales their biggest loss of the campaign.
Dogo’s Post Match Reaction
“Today is Warri Wolves best day and unfortunately our worst; with the weather and the red card. Even with a man down we try to get back but didn’t take the chances that came our way, while they eventually got their third.
“I apologise to the fans for this disappointing loss, I can only appeal for more support while we maintain focus on our target. The log means nothing at this time; a result can still alter position in the standings. We will bounce back in our next game.”
The result keeps Sunshine Stars in the 5th position on the NPFL table with 31 points from 22 matches. The Akure landlords next host Abia Warriors.
Sunshine XI | Ojo; Abe (C), Akpojubweuvwo, Alimi (Akande 48′), Zikiye; Fatokun, Obanigba, Omaka, Ekelojuoti (Adeniji 76′); Omo Jesu (Jimoh 40′), Adebayo
Subs | Suleiman; Akobundu, Adejubu, M. Suleiman
Cautions | Abe 24′ 37 Alimi 6′ Ojo 74′
Red Card | Abe 37′
