Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, on Monday, secured their first victory of the 2021/22 NPFL season via a 1-0 triumph over Katsina United, with second half substitute, Wasiu Alalade coming off the bench to score the lone goal.
The Lekan Salami Stadium was again filled to the brim as supporters and fans of the Oluyole Warriors from within and outside Ibadan, thronged the arena to cheer their darling team to victory.
The Oluyole Warriors would have come out victorious with a wide margin, had they converted most of the glaring chances that came their way, especially in the first half.
Not wanting anything than the maximum points, the coach Edith Agoye led technical crew paraded a strong line up with Okanlawon Olaide in goal, ably covered by the quartet of skipper Omololu Waheed, Isiaka Mutiu, Ghali Falke and Amodu Nurudeen.
Uko Aniete, Akilu Mohammed and Olatunji Damilare took charge in the middle, leaving Kolawole Daniel, Malomo Taofeek and Olafinihan Gafar upfront.
The Ibadan soccer lords completely dominated proceedings for the largest part of the first 45 minutes but poor marksmanship was their greatest undoing, as the first half ended scoreless.
The homers, who were barely threatened by the visitors, whose attaxk, led by ex Shooting Stars’ forward, Ahmed Rasheed, was well handled by the 3SC backline, pressed further as the second half got underway.
The introduction of Ebenezer Odeyemi and Wasiu Alalade for the duo of Kola Daniel and Olatunji Damilare, added more bite into the Warriors’ attack and this paid off in the 62nd minutes when Alalade broke the deadlock with his very first touch of the ball.
Katsina United, who had before the goal, packed more men in the defense, tried to come back into the game by pushing forward, but goalkeeper Okanlawon and the 3SC defense stood their ground till the end of the match, thus ensuring that Shooting Stars got their first maximum points of the season.
3SC, who now have five points from four matches, will next travel to Aba, for a match-day five face off against Enyimba FC of Aba, next Sunday.
Tosin Omojola
Media Officer, 3SC.
