The final game before mid-point of the Nigeria Premier Football League 2024/25 season saw us welcome southwest rivals Sunshine Stars in the first of two closed door games.
LINEUP: Faith James; Harrison Uzondu, Chibuike Oheagbulam, Leo Ngenge, Freedom Marvelous; Olatunji Abdulmalik, Rivio Ayemwenre, Salau Yusuf; Alade Solomon, Adelani Shola & Emmanuel Solomon.
The lads struggled to break the backline of Sunshine Stars in the opening half hour as the game looked to be wearing out to a goalless first half. In the 35th minute, Austin provided a lay off for Salau whose effort went into the side net.
The breakthrough eventually came through Shola Adelani in the 38th minute. The winger controlled, shifted to his left foot and hit a delightful finish past the goalkeeper to give us the lead. Sunshine Stars however leveled through a header from captain Iwundu Chidozie, in first half added time to take the game 1-1 into the break.
The second half began with substitutions as Ayomide Cole replaced Solomon Alade and on the hour mark, Waliu Ojetoye came on for Shola Adelani. Moses Shodeinde also replaced Emmanuel Solomon as we continued to search for a winner.
The winner came in added time when Ayomide Cole was brought down in the box. Rivio dispatched the penalty as we sealed the game with a 2-1 win going into mid-season.
SUBSTITUTES
OUT: Alade Solomon IN: Ayomide Cole 46’
OUT: Shola Adelani IN: Waliu Ojetoye 60’
OUT: Emmanuel Solomon IN: Moses Shodeinde 69’
OUT: Freedom Marvelous IN: Chineme Chinonso 78’