It was an inspiring performance from Ogunniyi Omo Jesu as Sunshine Stars of Akure record their first goal and first win of the 2020/21 NPFL season under Gbenga Ogunbote against FC Ifeanyi Ubah on matchday 2.
The Akure Gunners having lost on matchday 1 in Gombe against Jigawa Golden Stars needed to get themselves back on track with a win.
Ogunbote made three changes to the squad that lost to Jigawa Golden State with Ogunniyi Omo Jesu coming into the starting line up.
The Owena boys started the game brightly from the blast of the whistle with Fuad Ekelojuoti, Ayo Adedubu, Chinedu Udechukwu and Ogunniyi Omo Jesu combining well in attack.
The deadlock was broken as early as the ninth minute when Omo Jesu struck a free-kick touched down for him into the roof of the net.
The orange men from that goal dominated all through, creating lots of chances but could not convert any.
The Anambra Warriors relied on counter-attacks to get something from the half but the efforts of Nonso Nzediegwu, Umar Abdulrasheed, Ekene Awazie were tame at goal.
Heading into the break, Fuad Ekelojuoti could have seen red after a rash tackle which had him put his stud through to the knees of Lukman Aliu but was only cautioned by the referee with a yellow.
Coming into the second half, the Anambra Warriors’ best chance fell to substitute, Maxwell Ijomah but he could not sort his feet out to get a clean strike.
Ogunbote’s team managed to see off other challenges as they could not convert chances created.
The best chances of the second half fell to Tolu Oluwole who fired wide after being played through on goal.
The lanky striker had another glorious opportunity to put the game to bed after a deflected clearance fell to him in the box but could not beat Ifeanyi Ubah’s Sharp Uzoigwe.
Tackles came flying from both ends of the pitch in the death of the match but it all ended as the referee sounded his whistle for the last time.
Sunshine Stars went home with three important points against an opponent they defeated last season in the same fixture.
