Sunshine Stars are through to the semifinal of the Optima Energy Gold Cup after they won their last group game against a 10-man Hammola by two nil.
The former Optima Energy Gold Cup champion; regardless of Hammola’s NLO status, didn’t take the game with kid gloves, as they went all out in the game, knowing that the 3points will secure their qualification to the semifinals.
Both should have scored in between the half-hour mark, but Hammola defenders kept Sunshine Stars strike farce at bay, as the Owen Whales dominated play.
Sunshine Stars got the first goal and went into the dressing room with a half-time lead after Pius Ojo smashed the ball into the roof of Hammola’s goal in the 40th minute.
Hammola were hard done in the 84th minute, as their defender was shown a second booking and marching order for a technical foul at the edge of the box.
The free kick led to Sunshine Stars’ second goal after Awonsanmi Promise pounced on a rebound from Damian Obodoagu’s effort from the set-piece.
Regardless of the must-win encounter between two former Optima Energy Gold Cup kings, Tornadoes and Remo Stars who are on 7 points each, Sunshine Stars have secured their place in the last, after earning 8 points with a plus four (4) goal difference.
In the second Group B game at the FC Ebedei Stadium, Gombe United recorded their first 3points of the preseason tournament as they piped Beyond Limits 2-1.
The Savannah Scorpions had a two-goal cushion heading into the locker room after Beyond Limits scored an own goal in the 18th minute and Zakary Usman increased the goal tally to 2-0 in the 36th minute.
Beyond Limits, then pushed Gombe United to its limits scoring from the penalty spot in the 76th minute.
Alimi Junior was adjudged to fouled a Beyond Limit player inside the box, following his awkward marking and the ref wastes no time to award a spot kick.
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro calmly bundled the ball into Gombe United’s goal to make it 2-1 and his second in the Optima Energy Gold Cup.
