3SC Beats Kano Pillars to Pick Maximum Points

Shooting Stars revival to avoid returning to the lower division of the Nigerian Professional League began at home yesterday after snatching three points from defending champions, Kano Pillars in a rescheduled Match Day Three game at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

A first-half lone goal from Junior Ajayi was all the Oluyole Warriors who have been languishing at the bottom of the 20-team log needed to revive their campaign. They are just a point above the drop zone after seven weeks of action in the Glo Premier League.

The Kano team posed stiff opposition with the rampant foray of Azeez Shobowale and Rabiu Ali but had no goal to show for their efforts.

It was an end to end battle as there was little to choose between the two sides but the Oluyole Warriors looked more deadly whenever they were in the final third.

Shooting Stars quickly stamped their authority on proceedings and after 10 minutes they went ahead.

Ajayi blazed past a helpless Yusuf Mohammed after connecting with Tope Orelope’s brilliant pass.

As the first half approached a conclusion, chances were few and far between as both sides struggled with their final ball.

In the early exchanges of the second half, Shooting Stars began the game on a high spirit searching for the second goal.

Najeem Olukokun saw his lob cleared to safety by Usman Suleiman in the 50th minute.

Shooting Stars looked very strong at the back with no margin of error.

But Abiodun Akande saved Shooting Stars after he stretched to tip away Rabiu Ali’s point blank shot.

This evening Nigeria’s last team standing in continental campaign, Warri Wolves will travel to Port Harcourt to take on Dolphins in a rescheduled Week Thee encounter at the Liberation Stadium in the Garden City.

Dolphins attacking midfielder, Isiaka Olawale yesterday described the clash as not a do-or-die-affair.

Olawale said his side are aware that Warri Wolves are coming to Port Harcourt to make a bold statement of their pedigree but they are determined to turn them back empty-handed.

“Of course, the encounter won’t degenerate into a do-or-die affair but will always remain a keenly contested and entertaining game.

“We’ve done our home work and anxiously waiting for match day to unleash our weight on visiting Warri Wolves,” he noted.