Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) opened the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season with a winning start over newcomers, Inter Lagos on Friday when they won 2-1 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Salisu Yusuf named a a strong 3SC start list that included the front two of Lucky Gyang Emmanuel and Sofia Ibrahim while new-signing Olakunle Akala settled into the midfield role of providing a shield for the back-four.
Inter Lagos head coach Shakiru Giwa relied largely on the playing personnel that won him promotion to the NPFL.
The Ibadan club were always favourite ahead of the new boys and they proved that by taking the lead just 15 minutes into the season when Lucky Gyang Emmanuel fired them in front to score the first goal of the campaign.
However, Shooting Stars’ lead last only seven minutes as Inter Lagos captain Uchenna Njoku tapped in from close range at the near post to even the score at 1-1.
At the close of halftime, Emmanuel won a penalty for 3SC off a clumsy challenge by Inter Lagos defender Jamiu Arowolo. Sodiq Ibrahim stepped up and restored the home side’s lead inside added time of first half to calm the jangling nerves of their fans.
The second half was a more controlled performance from 3SC as they resorted to game management for larger spells of the contest.
Njoku came close to levelling the score just before the hour mark when his audacious attempt from range nearly caught 3SC goalkeeper, Mustapha Lawal off his line before the ball sailed over the post.
At the death, the Oluyole Warriors had the chance to put the game to bed when they were awarded a second spot kick. With seconds left to play, substitute Mustapha Adams Agba’a missed from 12 yards as he watched his penalty come off the upright.
Despite the late miss from the spot, 3SC claimed the full point, winning an opening fixture in the NPFL for first time in three seasons (D1 L1).
The opening matchday continues with nine fixtures this Sunday including champions Rangers playing hosts to Katsina United at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, their temporary home ground owing to renovation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
RESULT
3SC 2-1 Inter Lagos
Scorers: Lucky Emmanuel 15′, Sodiq Ibrahim 45+2′ (PEN) – Uchenna Njoku 22′
STATS
Possession 58%-42%
Shots (on target) 11(4)-5(1)
Corner kicks 4-3
Yellow cards 1-2
Red card 0-0