A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi helped Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenagoa on Sunday in Ibadan.
Team 3SC began the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday 13 game at the Lekan Salami Stadium brightly.
But they failed to raise their game and make their superior possession and dominance count, with the duo of Okachi and Samuel Ayanrinde exhibiting poor coordination and schoolboy striking upfront.
Bayelsa United were able to push the hosts back and even threaten them with a few counter-attacking moves, until Okachi scored with a low shot after 15 minutes on the clock.
It was the striker’s second goal in two consecutive games, having scored in the team’s 1-2 loss to Ikorodu United FC in Lagos on matchday 12.
That was to be the hosts’ brightest moment of the evening, in spite of an expectant home crowd, with poor passes characterising their game till the end of the first half.
It was now left for goalkeeper Mustapha Lawal to rescue the team with brilliant saves several times, as Bayelsa United desperately searched for the equaliser as the hosts kept faltering.
The visitors surged forward late in the game, with goalkeeper Lawal making good and brave saves in the 70th and 86th minutes.
But Shooting Stars were able to hold on till centre referee Andrew Eze brought the game to an end.
The win took Shooting Stars to the ninth spot on the table with 18 points from 13 matches.
(NAN)
