Timileyin ‘Omo Jesu’ Ogunniyi’s goal was not enough as Rivers United hanged on by the skin to hand Sunshine Stars a rare defeat at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Portharcourt on Sunday.
Rufin Konan’s strike off a penalty that appeared harshly awarded against the visitors earned the Pride of Rivers a first win nine NPFL matches between the sides.
After sitting out Thursday’s derby with MFM, Omo Jesu justified his inclusion in the match day 10 starting XI with solid display that was capped with an opener for Sunshine Stars inside the opening 20 minutes.
However, the excitement of the youngster’s goal for the visitors was short-lived as Peter Ubakanma brought the hosts back to level term by bundling home from a goalmouth scuffle in the 22′.
United secured the advantage four minutes into the scond half through Konan who blasted in from the spot for 2-1. The vistors were surprisingly penalised followimg an aeriel duel off a corner kick.
Rivers United who were living dangerous on the slim advantage had the chance to kill off the contest six minutes from time through Stephen Gopey who failed to guide home at the near-post from a sqaure ball down the right.
With the hosts on the edge, Sunshine Stars captain, Sunday Abe drew a save from the goalkeeper with a fierce low drive as the Akure landlords continued to press hard for an equaliser late on.
The worst the home fans feared could have happened tnrough Sadeeq Yusuf who was served a chance to draw level for the Whales, but the midfielder watched on keenly as his effort from inside the area rolled out just wide in the last seconds of added time.
In the end Omo Jesu’s second goal in as many matches and expansive play that drew applause from a section of the crowd could not prevent Sunshine Stars from slipping to their only defeat to the Stanley Eguma tutored side since their name change to Rivers United.
At the post match presser coach Kayode Julius who held forth for Kabiru Dogo at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium praised the gusty display of Sunshine Stars and was quick to shift focus to the Akure landlords next game at home.
_”I am happy with the effort of the boys; they played good game, you can see the crowd appreciating them here again like we have seen in other centres this season. Now we are going back home and prepare to win in our next game.”_
With the first defeat in five matches Sunshine Stars dropped to 6th position on the league log with 15 points from 10 matches and next host Dakaada FC on match day 11.
*Sunshine XI |* Suleiman; Abe, Zikiye, Akpojubweuvwo, Abisoye; Fatokun, Hilary, Adebayo (Yusuf 76′), Omo Jesu; Abia, M. Suleiman (Jimoh 67′)
*Unused Subs |* Ojo; Olulayo, Akande, Sadiq, Ekelojuoti
*Caution |* Hilary 30′
