NASARAWA UNITED END 3SC SIX GAMES UNBEATEN RUNS

Shooting Stars stormed the Lafia Stadium with the hope of getting a good result on the road yet again but the homers had a different agenda as well.

The NPFL Week 15 fixture started on a fast note as both teams put out some good display of football. Shooting Stars coming from their famous one nil home victory midweek against Enugu Rangers beaming with confidence and pride. That set the tone for the game and also portrayed a good match for the home team.

The humid temperature in Lafia dealt a shock for the Oluyole Warriors in the initial stages of the game as our boys struggled to adapt but that only lasted for a short period before we got into the thick of the climate. Jide Apena missed the target from a sweet pass from Ibrahim Babalola on the 9th minutes of the game. The Miners kept knocking the ball around without any threat whatsoever. Junior Merenini put up a solo run on the 19th min of the game which resulted into a goal kick.

Nasarawa United got their own share of the attack when Shooting Stars goalie Adamu parried a goal bound shot from Dajang Wash, this landed on the feet of Shittu Taiwo who cleared this away into safety. The match had to be stopped in order to treat the injured Shittu who sustained a minor injury from the goal-bound clearance. The home team also launched another attack on the 26th minutes and Opeyemi Adetoyi was on hand to contain the move, the rebound resultant into a corner kick.

The first half heartily produced some brilliant moves with Apena Jide, Junior Merenini and Ayobami Junior consistently disturbing the home boys without luck. Nasarawa got another attack bound move that was thwarted to corner kick, which was eventually wasted.

There was a penalty shout by visitors when Merenini and Ayobami were rolling on the ground in the area from what seemed like a foul, this was ignored by the referee. Goalie Adamu Abubakar had to rush out to disturb Aminu Kadri's effort to go out of touch.

Second half resumed with a couple of Nasarawa substitution when Abdurahman Bashir and Victor Okoro came in for Philip Auta and Dajang Wash. The changes swiftly resulted to a crucial attack when new entrant Victor Okoro missed a sitter from the six yard box!

Abayomi Junior was fouled in the 49th minute which prompted the referee to give a free kick call; he decided to take the kick which sailed over the bar. Shooting brought in Tolu Olaifa for Merenini Junior on the 58th minute in a bid to sustain their attacking moves. An incursion by the captain Seun Akinyemi result in a yellow card for him on the dot of 64th minute. The trio of Olaifa, Afolabi and Apena continued pulling pressure in the final third but the home team also continued containing the pressure. There was a quick succession of attacks by Nasarawa but goalkeeper Adamu was on hand to save at both times.

Shooting Stars would fortify their attack by bringing on Nonso Mbakwe for Jide Apena on 72nd minute while Nasarawa too did the same by substituting Aminu Kadir for Oussou Antonin. At this point, time was ticking for both teams and Nasarawa was piling pressure on the Oluyole Warriors, Opeyemi Adetoyi was once again called to defend and block the goal bound move. Suraj Sodiq came on for Ayobami Junior in a defensive inclined substitution on the 80th minutes.

Nasarawa got the winning goal on the 84th minute with a pile driver from Thomas Zenke. Aiyeleso Suraj, the goalkeeper of Nasarawa was brandished a yellow card for time wasting after the goal.

It all ended 1-0 in favour of the home team. 3SC Technical Adviser Fatai Amoo told www.3sc.com.ng that "the home team deserve their goal because they worked for it. They were unrelenting and we made some errors which caused their goal".