Sunshine Starts walloped Lobi Stars to sustain their good run in the last seven games.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Three goals within the first 27 minutes of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 9 fixture in Ijebu Ode saw Sunshine Stars picking all three points against Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
A brace and an assist from the towering Olasupo Samson ensured that the Akure Gunners continued their good run in the last seven games.
At the end, Sunshine Stars Coach, Gbenga Ayeni praised his wards for successfully interpreting the tactics laid out for the match.
“I have played Lobi Stars on three previous occasions this season. Our encounter with them during the pre-season matches in Ijebu Ode, Lagos and Abuja made me understand how they play. What we simply did was use two fast paced wingers because their full backs are not mobile and they allow the young striker freedom to run in the middle” Ayeni told www.npfl.ng.
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The tactic was used to devastating effect as Olasupo opened his goals account in the ninth minute. The young striker calmly controlled the ball with his chest as Lobi Stars struggled to clear a long throw-in to their box. He side footed the ball to Goalkeeper Nwabali’s left and offered no chance for the towering goalkeeper.
Minutes later, it was Leonard Ugochukwu who doubled the lead as Lobi Stars defenders were left chasing shadows. The diminutive winger played a shot pass to Olasupo who returned the compliment and Nwabali was left exposed and Ugochukwu took his chance.
The final goal arrived in the 27th minute as Olasupo completed his brace in his fifth start for Sunshine off a cracking shot from the edge of the box. A goal worthy of winning any match.
Lobi Stars Coach Eddy Dombraye described his team’s outing in the first half as the worst outing he has ever had as a coach.
“It was such a shameful display by the team. How can you go down by three goals before the 30 minutes mark? I have not had this type of experience before.
“They played better in the second half but I cannot rate it as a good performance because the game has already been lost in the first half. We had high hopes coming here but unfortunately we lost. We will go back and re-strategize”
Sunshine Stars will next play Katsina United and Coach Ayeni is hopeful of a positive result.
“We have gone seven games unbeaten. When we went to Rivers United people thought we were going to lose but we came back with a point and we will go there deploy the tactics needed and hopefully get the result”, Ayeni said.