Captain Seun Akinyemi netted a second half winner as Shooting Stars edged out Heartland 2- 1 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 12 clash decided at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Ibadan on Saturday.
After a lifeless first half, substitute Muyiwa Lawal gave the hosts the lead courtesy of a 51st minute free-kick but Heartland's foreign import Anthony Oussou equalized barely five minutes later. Akinyemi then had the final say when he finished Nojeem Olukokun's pass from just inside the box with nineteen minutes left.
Both teams went into the game with contrasting fortunes, Shooting Stars losing in faraway Maiduguri while Heartland pipped Rivers United. The hosts were however boosted by the return of experienced duo Ajani Ibrahim and Cletus Itodo, the latter named among the substitutes on Match Day.
Their presence however could not bring life into the opening half as both teams played at training ground tempo, much to the disappointment of global audience. The best chance of the half fell to Shooting's Sunday Adetunji but his effort was directed at Heartland's debuting goalkeeper Phillip Acho.
3SC coach Kadiri Ikhana showed that he wanted it more early in the second half when he yanked off Adetunji for Muyiwa Lawal. It proved to be as an inspired change as Lawal converted a freekick moments after coming on after he was brought down at the edge of the area.
The euphoria that greeted Lawal's goal had hardly died down before Heartland levelled matters through Anthony Oussou's second goal in as many games. The Beninoise reacted quickest after Shooting goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi fumbled a shot.
With the clock ticking away, the hosts made their spell of sustained pressure count when a beautiful team move which involved Man of the Match Tope Oorelope and Najeem Olukokun resulted in the winning goal.
Full back Seun Akinyemi found himself in the penalty box and made no mistake in scoring the decisive goal. 3SC pressed further for more goals but had to make do with what they had but there was still enough time for fans' favourite Cletus Itodo to make a cameo on his return from injury.
Match Details
SHOOTING STARS: 1. Fabiyi Emmanuel 27 Akinyemi Oluwaseun 26 Ebiaku Promise 18 Nathaniel Joseph 24 Izu Joseph 5 Gege Soriola 10. Ajani Ibrahim 13 Olukokun Najeem 9 Adetunji Sunday 25 Orelope Tope 20. Babatunde Bright
Subs: 21 Attah Afeso 12. Cletus Itodo 16 Jimoh Ismail 19 Babalola Ibrahim 7 Kabir Umar
2. Muyiwa Lawal 36 Otun Fawaz
2. Muyiwa Lawal 36 Otun Fawaz
GOALS: Muyiwa Lawal 51', Seun Akinyemi 71'
HEARTLAND: 1. Phillip Acho 30. Kingsley Ajaero 4. Zoumana Doumbia 32. Nnaemeka Anyanwu 29. Chinedu Efugh 24. Nelson Ogbonnaya 22. Anthony Oussou 8. Bright Ejike 7. Stanley Okoronkwo 6. Roland Koffi 9. Emeka Ogbugh
Subs: 31. Chukwuemeka Ezeogu 34. Leo Onyedikachi 23. Isaac Loute 2. Olawale Doyeni 26. Julius Ubido 33. Onyebuchi Ajunwa 20. Ifeanyi Onuigbo
GOAL: Anthony Oussou 56'
Man of the Match: Tope Orelope
Referee: Jerry Akure
Attendance: 6,980
By Fisayo Dairo
By Fisayo Dairo
