Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan were undone by a late penalty kick, as Lobi Stars laboured to a 2-1 over the Oluyole Warriors in a Matchday 10 fixture.
Heritage Echo News gathered that the top-of-the-table clash played at the Lafia City Stadium, Lafia, saw the homers take an early lead through Adebayo Waheed’s seminute’snutes goal.
The Oluyole Warriors soon shrugged off the shocking early goal as they settled down to get back into the game.
The coach Gbenga Ogunbote tutored lads were unlucky not to have leveled up before the half time as Christian Pyagbara saw his effort cleared on the line by a Lobi Stars’ defender, thus helping the Makurdi based side in keeping their slim lead into the break.
The second half was barely four minutes old when the Oluyole Warriors deservedly levelled up, courtesy of a fantastic strike by substitute Gideon Monday, with left back Olawale Mutiu providing the assist, his third of the campaign.
The goal brought out the best in both sides as they strived to take the lead.
Shooting Stars’ defense line had to be at its best to curtail the homers’ who raided the Warriors’ goal area but found it hard to put the ball beyond goalkeeper Anozie Chinedu, who was impressive in between the sticks.
Mother luck smiled on the hosts few minutes to the end when they were awarded a penalty kick after 3SC goal scorer, Gideon Monday handled the ball inside the dangerous area.
Kalu Orji made no mistake from the spot to score what would become the winning goal of the pulsating encounter, as the Ibadan soccer lords rallied for late a leveller, but were unlucky not to grab it deep into the added time as Ayobami Junior and Alex Aghahowa’s efforts narrowly missed the target.
Despite the loss, Shooting Stars remain third on the log with 17 points and will aim at returning to winning ways next Sunday when they play host to Heartland FC of Owerri in a matchday eleven fixture.
