NPFL: Sunshine Stars thrash Rangers International
By Femi Atolagbe
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Sunshine Stars Football Club thrashed Rangers International 3- 1 in a cagey Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week seven decided at the Ondo State Sports complex, Akure.
The Sunshine Stars red hot striker, Sadeeq Yusuf gave the hosts the lead in the 24th minute before Fuad Ekelojuot doubled the lead from Chinedu Udechukwu square pass in the 34minute to end the first to the home team advantage.
Sadeeq Yusuf has now taken his tally to five on the NPFL goal scorer chart.
Rangers’ Godspower Aniefiok halved the lead in the 59th minute of the restart of the crunch encounter
Chinedu Udechukwu restored the Akure Landlords two goals lead after powered home from a free kick in the 61st minute.
Rangers’ efforts to swiftly response to reduce the deficit through a tricky free kick was saved by Sunshine Stars’ goal Keeper David Ariyo.
The center referee inability to take charge of the match led to the simultaneous dismissal of Sunshine Stars Defender , Bright Akpojuvewho and Rangers Ifeanyi Nweke , 12th minute to the stoppage time.
Sunshine Stars’ coach Gbenga Ogunbote commended his players for defeating the Rangers International.
According to him, “for us to win with three goals to nill against Almighty Rangers in a grade A game I think we did well, the winning will give us more confidence that we can do better”.
He said;”Sunshine Stars will work hard ahead of their next match, the game would be difficult in the sense that every team will want to beat us , all we need to do is to buckle up and take our chances.
“If we have a level playing ground we can still come back with a positive result.
Ogunbote who declined to comment on the officiating , thanked God that the referee was a able to handle the situation that occured on the pitch.”
Rangers’ Coach, Salisu Yusuf said his players had a good game, but only lost concentration due to what happened, which he said was not a new thing in football.
He submitted that the Center referee lost control of the game at a moment before he was able to get hold of the situation.