In-form Okiki Afolabi moved joint top of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) goal scorers' chart after his late penalty secured a 1-0 win for Sunshine Stars over Lobi Stars in a Match Day 22 encounter decided at the Akure Township Stadium on Sunday.
The game seem poised for a stalemate after both teams had cancelled themselves out in many of the contests but Afolabi's perseverance led to him winning a spot kick with three minutes left on the clock before he expertly converted to claim full marks for his side.
Lobi will feel hard done by after the loss after imposing themselves strongly throughout the contest. Captain Anthony Agbaji came closest for the Pride of Benue as his header inside the opening ten minutes of the second half came off the foot of the crossbar.
The hosts had also been denied by the woodwork earlier in the first half when Okiki Afolabi crashed a difficult header from Sunday Abe's cross off the upright in the 10th minute of play. Sunshine pressed for an opener in the opening half and had their best attempts after 20 minutes but Lobi goalkeeper Okiemute Odah was alert to deny striker Dele Olorundare. Odah went down quickly to stop Olorundare's first time effort from Ojo Mine's cross and got up right on time to beat out the striker's rebound from close range.
The visitors who have not had many joy on their travels this term went close to taking the lead in fortuitous fashion on 36 minutes when Patrick Ikeokwu squared low into the penalty box. Former Lobi defender Stephen Eze's attempted clearance almost ended up in his own net but Sunshine goalkeeper David Ariyo spared his blushes.
Second half
The half started on an end-to-end note as old warhorse David Tyavkase curled inches wide for Lobi inside two minutes of the restart but the hosts replied with a succession of attempts almost immediately. First Ojo Mine's effort was superbly turned away by his former (Warri Wolves) teammate Odah before midfielder Dayo Ojo hit a volley over the bar from range.
The half started on an end-to-end note as old warhorse David Tyavkase curled inches wide for Lobi inside two minutes of the restart but the hosts replied with a succession of attempts almost immediately. First Ojo Mine's effort was superbly turned away by his former (Warri Wolves) teammate Odah before midfielder Dayo Ojo hit a volley over the bar from range.
Lobi introduced former Sunshine star Cletus Itodo for midfielder Jiya Mohammed and that changed the complexion of the game entirely. Itodo's angled pass got to Tony Okpotu but the striker failed to beat Ariyo from point blank range.
Lobi's best chance of the game however came when Nanen Immenger's floated ball into the box met his captain Anthony Agbaji totally unmarked but his well directed header beat the goalkeeper but not the post.
The game's defining moment came three minutes before time when Okiki Afolabi cunningly ran on to a loose ball with Lobi defender Dennis Nya lazily hopping around. He was adjudged to have had enough contact on the striker who was sprawling on the ground after both players met.
Afolabi who received his prize for being the League Bloggers Award Player of the Month of May at half time dusted himself and converted beyond the impressive Odah to give his side a first win in the second stanza of the season.
Match details
SUNSHINE STARS: 1. David Ariyo 10. Sunday Abe 3. Ojo Mine 2. Aliassou Sanou 27. Oke Ogagotewho 33. Stephen Eze 17. Meshack Chukwuibukem (Seun Olulayo 66') 28. Dele Olorundare (Samad Kadri 80') 12. Okiki Afolabi 9. Dayo Ojo 18. Ayo Saka (Kehinde Adedipe 86')
Unused subs: 19. Agbor Ekoi 4. Isiaka Oladuntoye 30. Lekan Agunloye 31. Stanley Okoronkwo
BOOKED: Aliassou Sanou 14'
GOAL: Okiki Afolabi 88' (p)
LOBI STARS: 30. Okiemute Odah 18. Solomon Kwambe (Moses Bumde 18') 31. Shehu Nasiru 4. Jiya Mohammed (Cletus Itodo 52') 5. Anthony Agbaji 6. Dennis Nya 29. Patrick Ikeokwu 13. Raphael Ayagwa 11. Anthony Okpotu 20. David Tyavkase 10. Nanen Imenger
Unused subs: 16. John Lawrence 12. Iorliam Gwarza 8. Emmanuel Ajia 28. Sunny Akleche 27. Harrison Egbune
BOOKED: Patrick Ikeokwu 38' Okiemute Odah 83'
GOAL: NIL
Referee: Isyaku Indabawa
Man of the Match: Ojo Mine (Sunshine Stars)
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