10th November 2020 at the Sharks Stadium Port Harcourt, Lobi Stars made a magnificent comeback to beat Cynosure FC in their third Group A game of the ongoing Governor Nyesom Wike Preseason Tournament 2020 to take over leadership of the Group.
Cynosure FC came close to proving bookmakers wrong as they sustained one goal up the situation of the game from the 18th to 75th minute before bowing down to the fire power pressure of Lobi Stars.
The encounter commenced at about 4;15 off the foot of Lobi Stars FC Ossy Martins. Lobi Stars’ first opportunity was carelessly wasted as Ossy Martins failed to convert a begging chance. No other opportunity came till the 18th minute when Osike Patrick capitalize on defense mix up between Lobi Stars creative Central defender Moses Tsehuan and Goalkeeper Faith James to put the ball into the net for Cynosure.
All efforts by Lobi Stars to get an equalizer proved abortive. The fruitless effort of the pride of Benue to pull down the goal almost got them frustrated as Cynosure resorted to unnecessary time-wasting from the first half of the game. Not even the introduction of an indefatigable and skillful midfield player for Lobi Stars, Onwuka Chukuka who took over from fast and pacey Carlos Geleya could change the situation.
The goal drought persisted till the Centre Referee called for half time at 45+2 minutes of the game.
Cynosure introduced two players upon resumption of the second stanza of the game, Notwithstanding, Lobi Stars showed a renewed zeal to equalize the goal while Cynosure kept on the application of delay tactics.
The underdogs maintained the one-goal deficit against Lobi Stars until the 75th minute when they met their waterloo after intense pressure from the pride of Benue
It all began when Lobi Stars central defensemen, Moses Tsehuan and Martins Guh initiated a build-up linked up with brilliant interconnect of Onwuka Chukwuka who delivered a brilliant through pass down the right flank for Austin Ogunye as his timely cross located wonder boy Abdulkareem Mumini with a power-packed header that beat Goalkeeper Ikhana Azeez the son of veteran coach Kadiri Ikhana overhead for the equalizer for Lobi Stars.
The equalizer became a turning point as the delay tactics of Cynosure vanished in thin air. Lobi Stars continued the pressure with Onwuka Chukwuka dominating the middle and Abdulkareem Mumini running rings upfront creating an atmosphere of restlessness for the opponents.
The pressure paid off for the glory to glory boys when Austin Ogunye was brought down on the left flank and the resultant free-kick was taken by match captain Ebube Duru. Duru deceptively took a straight shot to the goal while Goalkeeper Azeez Ikhana went out in anticipation of a cross and was beaten by the shot as the ball sailed into the net for the second and winning goal for Lobi Stars.
As it is, Lobi Stars are atop Group A with 7 points in 3 games, with Akwa United placed second with 4 points from 2 games and Rivers United third with 3 points from 3 games.
