NPFL MD16 : FC Ifeanyi Ubah defeat Sunshine Stars at the Fotress
Despite a brave performance, and an inginenous Sikiru Alimi’s goal, Sunshine Stars FC were defeated 3-1 by FC Ifeanyiubah at the Fortress, Nbewi in one of Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League match day 16 clashes.
Sunshine Stars’ coach, Henry Abiodun favoured the usual 4-3-1-2 formation with some changes in personnel, which included a debut call to Chigozie Obasi and restoring top scorer, Sikiru Alimi to the starting line up.
Amidst an early pressure from the hosts and series of perceived one-sided calls by the referee, Sunshine Stars drew the first blood after 16 minutes of play through a brilliant strike from Alimi.
The striker glided past his marker from an acute angle and fired into the top left corner.
The lead was cut out in the 24′ by Patrick Ikeokwu who drilled in a low drive past Moses Ocheje into the bottom left corner of the goalkeeper to ensure the first half ended all square.
The Anambra Warriors got in front three minutes after the restart as imposing Ivorain defender, Traore Issif rose highest to head home from a free kick with Ocheje already drawn out of his line by the delivery.
In the 61st minute Chijioke Alakwe profited from a lose ball in the area and poked in from eight yards out to extend Ifeanyiubah’s lead.
The Akure Landlords almost responded with a goal of their own moments later, but Alimi could not just managed to make a tapping connect to Yahuza Bala’s cross across the surface of goal from the byline.
With the loss, Sunshine Stars dropped to 17th on the log with 17 points from 16 matches and will host Wikki Tourists next Sunday in one of match day 17 pairings.
