Sunshine Stars pip MFM FC in SouthWest Derby Win
Sikiru Alimi and Tayo Adebogun stared as Sunshine Stars edged MFM 2-1 in the contest of the two Southwest teams campaigning in the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season in Akure on Wednesday.
Sunshine Stars coach, Duke Udi made two changes to the spirited side that lost to Enyimba on Sunday for the rescheduled match day 9 tie, with Seun Olulayo and Sunday Emmanuel replacing Alaba Adeniyi and Anthony Omaka in the starting line up.
Emmanuel however marked his first start of the season with an assist during the early exchanges dominated by the home side: the midfielder picked out Alimi with a sumptuous cross and the striker made no mistake heading Sunshine Stars into the lead from six-yard out in the 9th minute.
Sunshine Stars continued their dominnce after the opener but were denied a second by some smart and desperate MFM’s defending as the visitors did so little in threatening the Duke Udi tinkered side for an equaliser in the first half.
However seven minutes after the restart the Olukoya Boys restored parity through Akinyemi Nojeem who fired in into the bottom right corner off Sikiru Olatubosun’s assist to silence the cheering home crowd at the Ondo State Sports Complex.
Moment after conceeding the equaliser Sunshine Stars raised the derby’s tempo and the winner came in the 78th minute through the efforts of two second half substitutes, Adebogun and Omaka.
The midfield dynamo was wrestled down during an aerial duel just outside the area and the former gave an inch-perfect execution to the resulting free kick, firing in off the upright to hand Sunshine Stars there first win in four matches.
The win has lifted the Akure Landlords off the basement and eased early worries of relegation battle ahead of match day 11 meeting with Enugu Rangers at home on Sunday.
After the match Sunshine Stars captain, Sunday Abe and one the goal scorers Alimi both expressed relief on the win in a post match interview.
Abe: _”We thank God for the win and also I thank my team. The lapses noticed in the game was due to lack of concentration on our part during some moments of the game but we will keep working hard and not be deceived by the win today.”_
_”I feel relieved to see us win win and scored my second goal of the season. As a striker I want to always score and help my team move up.”_
However MFM gaffer, Fidelis Ilechukwu was somewhat coy in his submissions during the post match session with journalists.
_”My boys were fantastic, they played a very good game and by my own reckoning we won all aspects. But I will not tell you why we lost the game._ Visibly disappointed Ilechukwu posited as he fumed off.
