Leonard Ugochukwu stars as Sunshine secured a battling 1-1 draw with Nasarawa United at the Lafia City Stadium on match day 12.
The Owena Whales made a lively start to Sunday’s game and were up to a flyer within four minutes, thanks to Ugochukwu who finished off at close range from a beautifully worked out Kamoru Adebari’s ball.
After the opener, goalkeeper Japhet Opubo and his defense stood firm to thwart the hosts’ periodic advances, nevertheless the resistance was broken in the 39′ as Lawal Shehu scrapped home the leveller off a rebound.
The Deji Ayeni’s boys were in the mood afterward and could have regained the lead at the stroke of half time, but Adebari’s bicycle kick off a pass from Ugochukwu kept rising in front of goal.
Then Midfielder, Azeez Ajagbe went so close with a sighter just after the restart while Opubo turned up big when called into action at the other end five minutes later.
Adebari for a moment thought he had made up for his earlier miss after he chipped in from Opubo’s long ball in the 51′, however he was stunned to see the goal ruled out for alleged off side.
In the end neither side could grab a winner as the contest ended in stalemate. Sunshine Stars play away at Tornadoes on Wednesday as they seek to further atone for the home loss to Enyimba.
POST MATCH REACTION
Ayeni commented after the game saying “we could have won.”
“We came here believing we could win like Enyimba did at our home and you can see we almost got the three points because our second goal (voided) was a fantastic goal, but we leave it as human error. Our tactical plans really work and I give it to the boys for playing to instructions.
“Nasarawa United have been a fantastic team so I expected this kind of game. I am going to play Niger Tornadoes next; when I get to the river I will know how to cross it. We will approach our next game tactically too.”
Sunshine XI : Opubo; Ozor, Adeyemi (C), Sholumade, Dauda; Bello (Abe 90′), Cooper (Adeniji 70′), Ajagbe (Anioke 85′), Nwaiwu; Ugochukwu (Olasupo 68′), Adebari
Unused Subs : Lawal; Erukusin, Olayinka, Nwogbaga, Taofeek
Caution : Sholumade 26′ Adeyemi 51′
