We continued our strong record against Shooting Stars Sports Club since we gained promotion as we picked up a point in a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Lekan Salami Stadium, same outcome as when we came visiting last season.

LINE UP: Michael Atata; Junior Christian, Alfred Odinaka, Gift Udoh, Ayomide Abatan; Kelechi Onwe, Dagogo Ibifubara, Moses Shodeinde; Musa Maliq, Shola Adelani & Uchechukwu Onyemaechi.

It was a changed midfield dynamism as Kelechi was the only player to have featured this season of the trio. Academy graduate, Dagogo Ibifubara was making his senior debut in midfield and Moses Shodeinde was playing for the first time this season, a combination which gave the home side dominance at the early stages of the game.

Shooting Stars capitalized on the midfield dominance they had, taking only 10 minutes to find the breakthrough when Sodiq Ibrahim fired a low drive past Michael into the bottom corner, the first time our goal has been breached this season.

That goal sparked a strong resurgence as we began to control and dictate the pace of the game, despite struggling with balancing the ball on the turf. Dagogo first going close twice from two long range freekicks that were just inches wide before Kelechi’s headed from a corner beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the line.

Just before the break, we were not to be denied as a quick restart from a freekick started the breakthrough. Moses found Gift out wide, the defender went past his marked and scuffed his cross. Uche however made it perfect, latching on to it and redirecting it into a dangerous area for the arriving Shola Adelani to hit past Mustapha in goal to bring us level. It was our first goal of the season.

The second half started more energetic, Shooting Stars coming out for a winner but the lads stood firm, causing issues for the home side’s defense as well. Arumala came on for Shola into the half and Chinonso Uzoma also came on for Moses Shodeinde to make his club debut.

The final moments were tense and Musa Maliq hit a ferocious effort just inches wide and then Michael Atata was forced to a point-blank range save deep into additional time to keep our point intact into the full time whistle.

UP NEXT

We welcome newcomers Barau FC to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena from Kano for matchday four action.

SUBSTITUTION

OUT: Shola Adelani IN: Joseph Arumala 70’

OUT: Moses Shodeinde IN: Chinonso Uzoma 78’

BOOKINGS

Ayomide Abatan 64’

Michael Atata 90+6’