Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) returned to winning ways in this season’s EUROMATCHNPFL on Friday following a 3-1 triumph over Ranchers Bees at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
The Oluyole Warriors began the matchweek without a win in their last five fixtures (D2 L3) and needed to put points on the board to assuage their already unhappy supporters.
Desmond Ojietefian opened scoring for Shooting Stars in the 14th minute by heading in from close range after Issa Yusuf’s long throw-in unsettled the Bees’ defence.
Ranchers Bees managed by Usman Abd’Allah fought back and came close to levelling the score through Jamilu Yusuf on 36 minutes but the Shooting Stars goalkeeper Godgift Elkanah did enough to keep out his attempt from going in.
Two minutes later, Elkanah could do nothing in stopping Isah Ndala Aliyu’s inswinging freekick into the box with Jamilu Yusuf’s attempt to tap the ball turning into a feint that left the Shooting Stars goalkeeper with no chance as the Bees drew level at 1-1.
In added time before the break, another Issa Yusuf long throw-in into the Bees’ box caused panic and Damilola Akinola positioned himself at the far end and needed just two touches to apply the finish to restore Shooting Stars’ lead and ensured they go into the locker room with the advantage.
Salisu Yusuf’s men should have gone two goals up at the start of the second half, but Sodiq Ibrahim’s spot kick was saved by Ranchers Bees goalkeeper Alhassan Tofa in the 52nd minute after Ibrahim Inuwa redirected a goal-bound move with his hand away from goal inside the box.
Shooting Stars super-sub, Qamar Adegoke needed just seven minutes to make an impact in the game after coming on for Taofeek Otaniyi when he dragged the ball away from his marker in the 71st minute before scoring from an impossible angle to leave Ranchers goalkeeper Tofa stunned.
Inside the final 10 minutes, Ndala tried to conjure a fightback but aimed his attempt off target.
Shooting Stars should have wrapped up things up late in the game when Lucky Gyang Emmanuel cut inside of his marker in the box but watched as Tofa bravely made himself big to save the attempt.
The 3-1 win helped Shooting Stars move out of the bottom-four while Ranchers Bees slipped into relegation places.
The matchweek continues with two matches on Saturday and another six on Sunday.