Sunshine Stars of Akure recorded their first win of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season with a 3-0 defeat of Kano Pillars on Sunday. Elsewhere, Remo Stars dusted Plateau United to maintain a clean slate.
Playing at their adopted home ground, Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Sunshine Stars, made their intentions known right from the blast of the whistle with consistent attacking threats.
Despite creating chances in the first half, the breakthrough didn’t come until the 69th minute when substitute Kamaru Adebari rose highest in the box to head in the opener for the Akure Gunners.
Michael Olulasi’s trademark finish in the 75th minute doubled the lead for Coach Deji Ayeni’s side.
With ten minutes to go, Sunshine Stars put the game beyond Kano Pillars through Captain Babatunde Bello who smashed into the back of the net superbly.
The result added more worries to the dwindling fortune of Ibrahim Musa’s Kano Pillars who remain 20th on the log.
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Up next for Sunshine Stars is a South West Derby against newly promoted Shooting Stars, while Kano Pillars host Niger Tornadoes.
In another encounter, a flicked header by Samuel Anakwe helped Remo Stars extend their unbeaten run to five games this season.
Remo Stars led the league standings coming into the MatchDay 5 actions and the Sky Blue Stars dominated the first half showing intent to win.
A couple of crosses from Stanley Okorom found Andy Okpe in the opening 15 minutes but the lanky striker failed to work the goalkeeper on each occasion. The hosts kept Plateau United on the back foot for majority of the half as few half chances also fell to Anakwe and Ifegwu Ojukwu but none of them successfully changed the scoreline as both teams went into the break tied goalless.
Plateau United came closest to opening the scoring in the second half when a left footed shot by Haggai Kattoh came off the upright in the 54th minute. The Sky Blue Stars reacted with a goal a minute later.
Ojukwu worked a save from goalkeeper Panshak Silas, and the resulting corner kick was met by Lekan Adedayo whose headed effort was slightly deflected on target by an unmarked Samuel Anakwe for the game’s only goal.
The game got unlocked afterwards with chances coming thick and fast. Remo Stars failed to effectively utilize any of their intermittent counter attacks, while Reuben Bala was a culprit for missing Plateau United’s biggest chance for an equalizer in the final seconds of the game.
Match statistics
Shots on: 5-1
Shots off: 6-6
Fouls: 7-12
Corner kick: 11-1
Offside: 4-3
Yellow card: 0-2
Red card: 0-0
