A Wasiu Jimoh well-taken penalty kick late in the first half was the difference between Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and visiting Rivers United in a Match Day 7 clash of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The game started with the visitors dictating the pace early in the first half. The pair of Chinonso Okonkwo and Ivorian import Kuemian Guy Venance made themselves handful against the Oluyole Warriors' defence marshaled by former youth international Sodiq Suraj and one-time Super Eagles defender Gege Soriola. Okonkwo almost put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute when his well-taken shot came off the upright with Shooting Stars goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi well-beaten. The former Enyimba striker was later booked by referee for going down easily in the box.
The complexion of the game changed in the 37th minute when a mix-up in the River United defence saw full back Ofem Inah clatter into Nojeem Olukokun. The referee pointed to the spot for a penalty and for his effort, Inah was issued a straight red card. Jimoh stepped up to the spot and put the home team ahead to the delight of the fans.
All efforts by the hard-fighting Rivers United could not yield result in the second half as 3SC efficiently saw the game home.
Coach of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma, expressed disappointment over the inability of his boy to convert the several scoring chances that came their way promising that the team will go back and work on their mistakes.
On the other hand, Shooting Stars coach, Kadiri Ikhana, praised the fighting spirit of the boys from Port Harcourt for holding their own even when they went down a man down.
