Stephen Chukwude’s 42nd minute goal was all Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure needed to defeat Rangers International of Enugu in a match-day six tie of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), played at Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu- Ode.
The home side dominated the encounter from blast of the whistle to end of the game.
Chukwude, a former Rangers International and Heartland FC player, wasted no time in tucking the ball into the top roof of the net from Chinedu Nwosu’s pass in the 43rd minute.
The Akure-based side could have been up by four goals in the first half but went into the break with a lone goal due to inability to convert clear cut chances.
The restart of the game saw the reigning NPFL champions display some aggressiveness which was well curtailed by the home side’s backline.
Sunshine Stars’ Nelson Osahon, Adebayo Abayomi were thrown into the fray to replace, Adewale Yusuf and Chinedu Nwosu respectively, for more goals which never came.
Osahon marked his presence with a thunderous shot from outside the box, only for Rangers’ goalkeeper, Lucky Abdullahi to deny him.
Introduction of Suraj Ibrahim, Ajagbe Abdulazeez and Elmer Arunta in place of hardworking Dozie Umea , Stephen Chukwude and Seth Mayi was unable to change the outcome of the game.
In his post match interview, Sunshine Stars’ Technical Adviser, Kennedy Boboye, who commended his players for grabbing the all important three points, promised to work on the teams’ conversion of chances
“It was a good game, the most important thing is the three points we have because its one game after the other.
“All we need is just to go back and start working on goal scoring; had we won the game by four to five goals it would have been well deserved.
“There is no game we played that we didn’t miss goals since the league program started.”
Sunshine Stars are currently fourth on the log and next visit Ilorin to face Kwara United in a midweek tie.
Femi Atolagbe
Sunshine Stars
Media Manager