Shooting Stars topple Dolphin on NPL log

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) have replaced Dolphin Football Club on top of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) on Saturday following their two-nil triumph over newcomers, Bukola Babes, at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.

But the lead of the Oluyole Warriors is temporary until Warri Wolves, the only side with a chance of going top, play on Sunday at the Warri City Stadium against Heartland Football Club of Owerri.

Bukola Babes sure made the Stars work hard for their win in Ibadan, as they had to wait for a minute after the half hour mark to go into the lead through Raheem Owolabi.

However, it was Chima Akas that ensured that Shooting Stars did not finish the game on a nervy note with his second strike of the season on 83 minutes to hand the Ibadan club a 2 – 0 victory.

The victory puts Shooting Stars on seven points from three games ahead of Gombe United on same number of points.

Head coach of Shooting Stars, Fatai Amoo, said though his side won, he is not carried away, as he still feels that the players are still far from a finished product.

“I am happy with the win but we are still not that complete team yet. If Bukola Babes were really experienced enough I am sure that we would have been punished during the game when we did not take advantage after leading,” he told SuperSport.com.

Gombe United won by 1 – 0 against Lobi Stars in Bauchi. But the Scorpions had to wait for a late goal from MacMarcel Obioha on 90 minutes.

In Port Harcourt, Dolphin lost their 100 per cent record to Sharks via Victor Ezeji’s 64th minute strike while Sunshine Stars got the honour of becoming the second team to grab all points at Plateau United.

Sunshine Stars’ Ukeyima Akombo scored two minutes into added time to break the hearts of Plateau United fans at the Rwang Pam Stadium.

At the Mamman Kontagora Stadium in Minna, Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club continued their streak of draws with a stalemate against Niger Tornadoes while Kwara United wrapped up the points on former champions, Kano Pillars, five minutes into added time with a controversial penalty converted by Isiaka Olawale.