Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan were on Monday, held to a 2-2 draw by Sporting Lagos FC, in a Matchday 18 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Watched by a farly large crowd, mostly noisy backers of the home side and a handful of Lagos based 3SC supporters and few travelling supporters and fans, the game was devoid of any dull moment as both sides fought hard for the maximum points.
The homers started the game on high desperately looking for an early opener, but the 3SC defensive network, comprising Aniyikaye Adeleye, Adelowo Gbolagade, Kazeem Saheed and Gali Falke, stood firm, giving returnee goalkeeper, Okemute Odah the needed coverage.
The Ibadan soccer lords will soon get into the game with Alex Aghahowa, linking Musa Abdulrahman, skipper Malomo Taofeek, Joshua Akpan and forwards, Kareem Ademola and Oke Kayode.
However, it was the homers who would break the deadlock in the 41st minute, when Chinedu Ufere’s canon from outside the box went pass goalkeeper Okemute.
The Oluyole Warriors responded four minutes into the seven added minutes, with the leveller though Kareem Ademola who shoots in from close range after Oke Kayode fought his way to provide the pass.
Shooting Stars looked good to go ahead minutes later but the referee ignored what looked like a foul on Monday Gideon, (who replaced injured Akpan Joshua), by goalkeeper Christian Nwoke, waving play to continue, a move that resulted in a penalty for the hosts after Kazeem Saheed was adjudged to have fouled a Sporting Lagos player.
Jonathan Alukwu perfectly tucked in the ball to restore SportingLagos’ lead, thus ending the first half 2-1 in the homers’ favour.
Shooting Stars started the second half with the injection of fresh legs by coach Gbenga Ogunbote who threw in the duo of Muritala Taiye for Kazeem Saheed and Christian Pyagbara for Oke Kayode.
The visitors restored parity five minutes after the restart, as Gideon Monday, perfectly finished up a lovely pass from Malomo.
From then on, the Oluyole Warriors seized dominance of the game and could have increased their tally minutes after Gideon’s leveller but Malomo Taofeek saw his efforts missing the target.
It was an tensed end to the derby, with the hosts making some daring moves in the 3SC goal area, forcing Okemute to make two fantastic saves, while the hosts’ noisy supporters were made to sit on the edge of their seats as Shooting Stars created anxious moments in the Lagosians goal area.
Sporting Lagos had their captain, Vincent Akpikpi red carded for retaliation towards the end of the game but they were able to hang on to end the match 2-2.
Shooting Stars will next Sunday face Enyimba FC of Aba in a Matchday 19 fixture at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, signalling the end of the first round of the season.
