It was a sweet victory for Oluyole warriors in match day six of the Nigeria Professional football League at Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.
The manager didn’t want a repeat of their sluggish start at home against the prayer warriors, MFM FC of Lagos with the introduction of Sunday Faleye, Abayomi Adebayo and Jide Apena from the start.
Shooting stars played their heart to the delight of vociferous stand in the early minutes of the first stanza .
Guy Keumian missed a sitter in the seventh minute of the encounter when he nodded tamely from five yards a beautiful in swinging from Nweke.
Shocking defending by Rivers United defenders paved way for the home team as Ajegunle trained Faleye fired home unerringly from six yards in the seventeenth minute. The goal prompted eruption of euphoria around the stadium.
With stealth akin to a thief in the night, Rivers United managed to turn a clear inevitability back into a genuine contest in the 29th minute. Lukman Mohammed levelled things for his side when he connected from the corner for the visitors goal.
There was a panic again as the toast of the fan Faleye sent a swinging cross into the area, only for a Rivers defender to relieve the pressure with a clearance.
The home team continued where they stopped at the restart with two of their glaring chances denied by woodwork. Faleye denied in quick succession again by Festus and Olalekan. The home team were unlucky to see most of their efforts being frizzled.
3SC were in front again in the sixty eight minute and in deserved fashion when Jide Apena darted into the box and striked home a cool finish past brilliant Femi Thomas.
Ovoke came on and made impact as he poked a fine pass to pick Guy but the Ivorian was restricted by no nonsense Sodiq Suraj.
The goalscorers will grab the headlines but this was a tremendous team display, peppered with fine performances. The win takes Shooting Stars out of relegation to 14th position on the log with 7 points.
“We are delighted to come out victorious in this must-win contest. The right balance in the team today speaks volume, we shall take positive and consolidate on this as we seek to register away wins,” Suraj confirmed to soccernet.com.ng
Oluyole warriors will travel to Nassarawa United for their next league game on February 22nd. Rivers United maintains 9th position on the log and they are set to jet out of the country for their continental campaign.
