By Austin Tyowua, Media Officer Lobi Stars FC
Half-time Substitute Chinonso Okonkwo’s second-half quick brace gave Lobi Stars a dramatic 2-1 come to end the first round of the 2020/2021 league in style against Jigawa Golden Stars in a Match Day 19 fixture.
Jigawa Golden Stars took the kick-off after a one-minute silence was observed in honor of the fallen legend and team manager of Lobi Stars Mr. Barnabas Shikaan Imenger but quickly lost the ball to Lobi Stars after two passes, and reversed the attack against the visitors. Lobi Stars sustained the offensive over Jigawa Golden Stars in the first 20 minutes of the game. Lobi Stars came close severally but shot blank, not even Douglas Achiv’s brilliant volleyball from John Buruku’s cross could make a difference.
Respite care for the Golden Stars when a 20th-minute tactical counter-attack paid off as 22 shirted Dogara Peter clinically slot an overhead that beat the faulty timing of Goalkeeper Moses Ocheje from a Samuel Stone’s creative pass that beat Lobi Stars defense to leave Dogara with the Goalkeeper to beat, the goal gave the Gilbert Opana tutored lads the lead, stability, and strength to occasionally push for more havoc.
Andrew Idoko received a yellow card as he dangerously brought down John Buruku. The first half ended with Jigawa Golden Stars maintaining the 1 goal lead.
Before the commencement of the second half, Coach Kabiru Dogo introduced match-winner Chinonso Okonkwo and Monday Akile in place Austin Ogunye and Tersoo Zenke to strengthen the attack, 2 minutes into the second half, The Golden Stars brought in Abdullahi Lala in place of yellow-carded Andrew Idoko.
51 minutes extend of play, substitute Chinonso Okonkwo converted a John Buruku’s cross as he quickly won an attempt by Olarewaju Abdulrahman to save.
Chinonso Okonkwo was on song again 5 minutes later to put The Pride of Benue in the lead as he breaks from the mid-right with the goalkeeper to beat, his power-packed blinder beat Goalkeeper Sochi Victor for the second goal that gave the home boys victory.
Jigawa Golden Stars rejig the team in 67th minute as Mohammed Gidado and Yusuf Mohammed took over from goal scorer Dogara Peter and Ibrahim Umar. The substitution proved effective as they put up a sustained raid on Lobi Stars.
Olarewaju Abdulrahman received a yellow card for applying excessive force against Ossy Martins in the 68th minute. John Buruku received another yellow card for a similar offense 4 minutes later.
Tiza Samuel would have made it 3 for Lobi Stars in the 90+1 minute as a well coordinate attack by Lobi Stars on the left located him from the foot of Akile Monday, Tiza Samuel creatively eliminated 1 defense player towards the right to get a scoring angle but his shot went slightly over the crossbar.
The resultant goal kick by Jigawa Golden Stars was to be the last kick as the center referee sounded his whistle to end proceedings, bringing the game to a 2-1 end in favor of Lobi Stars.
By this victory, Lobi Stars have moved from 10th to 9th position with 28 points and a game in hand. Expectedly, Lobi Stars should be going for a reverse fixture save the 2 weeks mid-season break.
