In a match played under a chaotic and unconducive atmosphere, Bayelsa United on Sunday, edged Shooting Stars Sports Club. (3SC) of Ibadan 2-1.
The tension soaked encounter, marred by controversies ranging from crowd violence and attack on 3SC goalkeeper, Okemute Odah, saw the homers, desperate to avoid defeat so as to keep their hope of remaining in the elite league alive, score twice in the closing stages of the Matchday 37 fixture, decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
The Ibadan soccer lords, had shot into the lead in the 27th minutes through Christian Pyagbara, after the Oluyole Warriors had soaked the hosts series of attacks.
Few minutes after the opener, the Ibadan soccer lords were reduced to 10 men, after Aniyikaye Adeleye was booked for the second time in the game.
The coach Gbenga Ogunbote tutored lads however held on to the 1-0 lead till the end of the first half.
It was a very chaotic and dramatic second half as the homers resorted to various antics to put the visitors under pressure.
The game had to be stopped early in the second half, when a fan ran onto the pitch to attack Shooting Stars’ goalkeeper, Odah Okemute.
The game later resumed with the two teams battling to find the back of the net.
It was the hosts who hit the target scoring the equaliser late in the game, through what was supposed to be a fair play, before getting the second at stoppage time , after the referee added 10 minutes.
Thereafter, the homers resorted to time wasting tactics, including keeping all balls away, forcing 3SC players to scamper for balls, until referee Buhari Bawa from Gombe State, blew the final whistle.
