NPFL: Sunshine Stars Subdue Heartland In Relegation Six-Pointer
Two spectacular first half goals from Sikiru Alimi and Franklin Sasere powered Sunshine Stars to a 2-1 win over Heartland in a Nigeria Professional Football League match day 21 game at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
Coach Henry Abiodun tinkered Sunshine Stars head into Sunday’s tie looking for a first win in four matches, and were already up and running from the 12th minute of the relegation six-pointer through Alimi.
The striker controlled a Seun Olulayo’s pass sideway to create space and pulled away from his marker superbly before volleying home his 6th goal of the season to hand the hosts an early lead.
And 10 minutes later Sasere doubled the advantage in a cold blood manner: he disposesed his former teammate, Ike ThankGod of the ball, moved through on goal and powered a low drive past Japhet Obudo’s into the bottom right corner.
Sunshine Stars could have added more goals, but midfielders, Kehinde Adedipe and Anthony Omaka could not just find the the right footing when gifted with glaring chances, while Emmanuel curled an effort just wide at the stroke of half time.
Heartland halved the deficit a minute after the restart through Fortune Omoniware who headed past an on rushing Henry Ayodele during an aerial scuffle to set the stage for a tensed final period.
However the game failed to produce further goal despite the renew efforts of both sides, with Sunshine Stars closing out the contest for their first win since match day 17 to move out of the bottom four with 24 points.
At the post-match conference coach Abiodun commended his players for their efforts and reaffirmed his hope of steering Sunshine Stars clear of the drop zone in time for the world cup break.
