Match Review: Shooting Stars SC vs Nasarawa United

Recap

MATCH REPORT: SHOOTING STARS 2-0 NASARAWA UNITED.

Nasarawa United FC had another Nigeria Professional Football League match-day to forget in a hurry after going down 2-0 at Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan on Sunday evening.

Looking to upturn their abysmal start to the new campaign, the Solid Miners were optimistic of coming out of Ibadan with something to cheer about.

But they would wait for yet another match-day to pick up their first win of the season, a development that is strange to every member of the team.

Despite starting off the game on a better foot, it was the travellers who conceded first. Samuel Ayanrinde capitalized on a set piece to put the home side on the driver’s seat in the 40th minute.

He made it 2-0 barely three minutes before the half-time whistle.

Uncomfortable with the scoreline, the Solid Miners returned from the interval with a different game-plan after receiving some dressing room pep talks.

Coach Bala Nikyu immediately effected some tactical changes, and central defender, Manga Mohammed almost found the back of the net, but the home side goalkeeper, Okechukwu Johnson, palmed it out of the danger zone.

Shortly after coming off the bench, Oche Josiah had his thunderous shot from a tight angle saved by the Shooting goalkeeper, that was immediately followed by a long range effort by youngster, Akoza Suleiman, as the home team tried to regroup.

Uzochukwu Ifejiofor was equally unlucky when his clever ball flowed slightly beside the woodwork in the 81st minute.

Ikenna Offor thought he had reduced the deficit, four minutes before regulation time, only for his ball to ricochet off target.

With three minutes of added time exhausted, there was nothing more to fight for as the Solid Miners continue their quest for their first victory in the 2022/23 Group ‘A’ Abridged League format.

The Lafia-based side have one point out of six games, and would be at home for the visit of Kwara United FC on Saturday, 11th February, 2023, in the match-day seven clash at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

CAUTION(Yellow Card):

Alex Aghahowa(SHO)15′

Joshua Ogbole(NAS)40′

Cletus Emotan(SHO)70′

NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Danlami Umar(Jerry Isaac 53′), Abubakar Abdullahi, Suleiman Akoza, Ibe Agwu(Oche Josiah 53′), King Osanga(Ikenna Offor 37′), Chidera Nduka(Anas Yusuf 71′), Manga Mohammed, Emeka Onyema, Joshua John, Joshua Ogbole, Uzochukwu Ifejiofor.

UNUSED SUBS: Ugochukwu Gabriel, Victor Dennis, Chris Madaki, Dauda Maigishiri, Shammasu Mohammed.