NPFL : Sunshine Stars Earn First Away Win of the season, Beat Tornadoes 2-0 in Kaduna

By John Kayode

Sunshine Stars FC against all odds picked maximum Points away from home against Niger Tornadoes at the ABS stadium Kaduna in a matchday 17 tie .

Tornadoes wasted no time In Settling for the game and attacking the visitors but the duo of Udom Ekerette and Emmanuel Ogbuagu in the center of the defence were firm .

Vincent Temitope dazzled up front in the early minutes to give Sunshine stars attack the needed bite

Sunshine stars first chance if the game came in the 10th minute when Vincent Temitope’s corner kick was not connected well as Yusuf Ibrahim headed wide .

Tornadoes however launched an attack through the resulting goalkick .

In the 18th minute Yusuf Ibrahim was injured when he contested for the ball inside the box with tornadoes goalkeeper, the attacker spent few seconds on the pitch before regaining his strength and play continues .

Efforts by the home team to get an opener was however stopped by Sunshine stars defenders who worked well to frustrate the attackers of Niger Tornadoes with Mustafa lawal in goal for stars keeping them at bay .

In the 29th minute, Emeka Isaac flashes a long range shot , a direct free kick which tornadoes goalkeeper luckily saved to keep his side in the game .

Five minutes later , in the 34th minute precisely, a build up in the attack by Sunshine stars resulted in what appeared like a penalty when Vincent Temitope got a push in the box but the center referee wasn’t convinced enough to award a spot kick

In the 36th minutes , Udom Ekerette had a chance to give Sunshine stars the opener but the lanky defender nods wide from a corner kick .

Thereafter, Niger Tornadoes increased the tempo and nearly got an edge but Imo ikemdinachi professionally disposes to keep stars up and alive .

Sunshine stars goal eventually arrived in the 42nd minute, a perfect team play from Midfield to the attack , Vincent Temitope launches , gives a square pass to Yusuf Ibrahim, immediately stars number 9 gives it back to Vincent who perfectly gave an assist to David Onovo

The sensation wasted no time in slotting home the opener for Sunshine stars

Immediate launch by Niger Tornadoes wasn’t productive as the first half ended one nil in favor of the visitors

Drama however ensued immediately after the center referee signalled the end of the first half , fans of Niger Tornadoes and players verbally insulted the match officials as they walked off the pitch .

Surprisingly , Sunshine Stars players and officials were prevented from entering the dressing room .

Edith Agoye however addressed his players close to the pitch .

The second half was however delayed for 23 Minute following refund if the match officials to come for the second half, it took the intervention of relevant football stakeholders present at the stadium to persuade the officials to continue the match .

Sunshine stars however started the second half with the introduction of Lucky Gyang who replaced Injured David Onovo

Sunshine stars gained possession 4 minutes after the re-start , a goal bound move thwarted by Tornadoes defender who fouled Ibrahim Yusuf in the box , the center referee wasn’t bothered as play continued

In the 54th minutes Sunshine Stars midfield maestro Achi Nnaemeka was shown a yellow card for a harsh tackle in Tornadoes attacker , relief for stars as resulting free kick sails .

In the 59th minute Tornadoes captain was shown a straight red card for a horrible challenge on Yusuf Ibrahim, animal sticker was down for minutes , stretched off the pitch but returned few minutes later

Edith Agoye in the 61st minute made two introductions, this time Ejike Uzoechi replacing Emeka Isaac while Jide Jimoh replaces Mafeng Pam

With the home team down to ten men , stars tried to make use of the numerical advantage but it wasn’t too easily as tornadoes piled pressure up in stars half .

In the 65th minute the second go arrived in style for Sunshine stars , again Vincent Temitope with the assist as Yusuf Ibrahim, the animal striker scoring via a flying header .

Sunshine stars displayed good football artistry moments later with the gaffer Edith Agoye reshuffling tactics bringing Emmanuel Ogbuagu into the midfield while Ejike Uzoechi and Udom Ekerette stabilizes heart of the defence

In the 73rd minute Lucky Gyang had a chance but efforts wasn’t enough to shake the net .

What should have been a consolation for Niger Tornadoes came In the 75th minute when their midfield maestro struck from 27 yards , his efforts hitting the upright

In the 77th minute , assist master , Vincent Temitope was replaced by Cletus Emotan Eba while John Chukwudi replaces goal ledor , Yusuf Ibrahim.

Six minutes after his introduction, John Chukwudi was unable to connect well as his efforts was few inches close to the goal

Dominant stars however calmly surmounted pressure from the home till towards the tail end of the match as the encounter ended 0-2 in favor of Sunshine stars

Edith Agoye, shortly after the tie in his post match interview commended his players for job well done

” My players showed high level of incredible determination in today’s game and that’s why we won convincingly”

With the win , Sunshine stars FC now garnered 24points from 16 matches to occupy the 4th position with a game in hand against Rivers united .

Up next for Sunshine stars is a round of 32 tie in the FA cup against Fc Kaduna at the Lokoja township stadium on Wednesday.

Unused subs

Joseph Okonkwo

Seun Olulayo

Samson Olasupo

Michael Olalusi

Used subs

Cletus Emotan

John Chukwudi