Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, made it two straight wins after the Oluyole Warriors pip Nasarawa United 1-0.
Energetic midfielder Anietie Uko’s brilliant effort, made the difference in the well contested matchday 19 tie, played on Sunday, at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
Interestingly, Anietie, hit the target in the 14th minute, exactly the same time Ezeala Uche scored the only goal that nailed Kano Pillars in last Sunday’s matchday 18 duel.
Expectedly, the Ibadan soccer lords, playing before their vociferous fans, took the game to the Solid Miners from the blast of the referee’s whistle, as they pressed for an early goal.
After surviving the initial onslaught of the coach Edith Agoye tutored lads, the Solid Miners defense eventually caved in,14 minute into the game.
Akilu Muhammed’s corner kick was headed out by a Nasarawa United but the ball fell to Adeniyi Adekunle, whose shot was blocked, only for Anietie to pounce on the rebound, before releasing a thunderous shot from outside the 18 yard box, which zoomed past sea of legs in the goal area, leaving goalkeeper Ameh Godwin helpless.
The former Vandrezzer player was however substituted by Ayo Adejubu, after he picked up an injury.
With the two sides separated by that single strike in the first half, Shooting Stars could have doubled their lead few minutes after the restart but Ayo Adejubu’s effort was thwarted by goalkeeper Ameh Godwin.
Not satisfied with the slim lead, the 3SC bench threw in the trio of Raheem Quadry, Alalade Wasiu and Adelani Yusuf, to press the visitors for more goals, but the coach Bala Nkiyu tutored side fought hard to keep the honers’ forward at bay.
At the other end, goalkeeper Dare Dede was up and doing to stop the visitors from wrecking havoc, even as the quartet of Ezeala Uche, Adeniyi Adekunle, Amodu Nurudeen and Ghali Falke were also on too of their game, stopping the visitors from finding the back of the net, thus ensuring that the Oluyole Warriors ran away with the 1-0 win.
Shooting Stars, courtesy of that win, finished the first round of the season on a respectable ninth position on the table, having garnered 26 points from 19 matches.
3SC XI: D. Dare, G. Falke, A. Nurudeen,, O. Damilare, A. Adeniyi, E. Uche, F. Sunday (A. Wasiu) A. Muhammed (A. Bensin), D. Kolawole (A. Yusuf), U. Anietie (A. Adejubu, M. Taofeeq (R. Quadry).
Unused subs: O. Olaide, A. Bafan, A. Sunday, E. Sochima.
