Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) recorded its first away victory in the Nigerian Premier League in five years after beating Heartland FC of Owerri 3-1 at the Rojenny Stadium in Oba, Anambra State on Monday.
With the Globacom Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) week 22 tie shifted to Monday after 26 minutes of action following adverse weather conditions in Oba near Onitsha, the Gbenga Ogunbote-led team had extra-night to recharge its batteries and restrategize against Heartland. And the result was a 3-1 revenge.
The game resumed from the 26th minute when it was abandoned the previous day and in the 36th minute Tope Orelope fired Shooting Stars’ opening goal from 20 yards. However, on the stroke of half time, debutant Fortune Omoniwari, who joined Heartland last week, equalized with exquisite delivery of Kingsley Ajaero’s inch perfect cross.
As Heartland struggled to breakdown the rejuvenated opponents, it was Ogunbote’s men who found the breakthrough through Cletus Itodo’s 47th minute goal before Najeem Olukokun sealed the victory in 64th minute to make the scoreline 3-1 which moved Oluyole Warriors into the top half of the league table.
The Naze Millionaires playing their home matches in adopted venue of Rojenny following temporary ban on Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, however, won the reverse fixture earlier in Ibadan by the same scoreline, 3-1.
Meanwhile, the last time Shooting Stars won its away fixtures in the top flight of Nigerian Football league was on February 20, 2010 when it defeated Gateway FC 2-1 at the Ilaro stadium.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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