Shooting Stars Football Club (3SC) of Ibadan, on Sunday, completed a double over hard fighting Osun United FC of Osogbo with 2 – 0.
The Nigeria National League (NNL) Group B1 Match Day Six encounter, decided at the Lekan Salami Stadium, was watched by a large crowd made up largely of the home fans and few travelling supporters of the visitors.
It was a keenly contested match as the Omoluabi Giants made good their promise to give Shooting Stars a tough time as they put up a gallant effort against the in form Stars.
Coach Samson Unuanel paraded a squad that had Anderson Okakem in goal, ably covered by the defence line consisting of Odudu Francis, David Mark, Suraj Sadiq, Habila David while Chinedu Emmanuel, Adio Yusuf , Alaji Rasaq and Emmanuel Peters held sway in the midfield.
Upfront were the duo of Gafar Olafimihan and Victor Okeji.
On the other end, Coach Edith Agoye started the game with his regulars, Lucky Jimoh in goal, skipper Waheed Omololu, Taiwo Muritala, Nurudeen Amodu, Abbey Benson and Olawale Muriu at the rear, Gbadamosi Fatai, Ayobami Junior and Francis Anene, in the middle and Opeoluwa Olufemi and Ifegwu Ojukwu in the front
The Oluyole Warriors made a positive start to the game as they found the back of the net as early as the 12th minute of the encounter.
Opeoluwa Olufemi jumped above Osun United defenders to nod past goalkeeper Okakem, off a well directed free kick taken by Ayobami Junior.
The goal became the tonic the Oluyole Warriors needed, as they caged the visitors to their own half in search of the second goal.
3SC had about two glaring chances to increase the tally, few minutes after the opener but poor marksmanship was their major undoing.
The close misses gave Osun United the strength to fight back, threatening the host on number of occasions but could not find the cutting edge, thus ending the first half 1-0 in Shooting Stars’ favour.
On resumption of the second stanza, 3SC, backed by their vociferous fans, took over control of the game, pulling pressure on their opponent.
This paid off in the 55th minute when an Osun United’s defender’s deflected ball, found Francis Anene who was lurking in the vital area and the midfielder made no mistake in placing the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Okakem for 3SC’ second goal.
Efforts by Shooting Stars to add to the margin failed to materialise just as Osun United failed to make some of the few dangerous moments they created in their host’s goal area count.
The win moves 3SC closer to topping the group. They lead the pack with 13 points from five matches, four points more than that of second placed Giant Brillars , who have garbered nine points from the same number of games.
The outcome of the match, leaves Osun United at the bottom with just one point from five games and with three round of matches left to be played, the Omoluabi Giants appear to be heading for the drop.
Shooting Stars are expected to travel to Yenagoa this weekend for their match day seven fixture against Bayelsa United who have been on break for the past two weeks.
Osun United will play host to the real giant killers of the group, Giant Brillers in the same weekend, while Abia Comets, who seem to have lost steam after a good start will not be in action.
