Ayoola Adeleke
3SC proved they are a good side and are ready to pick one of the available four tickets to the 2021/2022 NPFL season as they came back from a goal down to defeat the Vipers 2-1 in the second game of the ongoing NNL Super 8, in Enugu.
Bendel Insurance went into the game in the front foot as they dominated play from the blast of the whistle with series of chances going begging. Aside wasteful opportunities, 3SC goalkeeper, Dede Dare was a thorn in the flesh of the Benin Vipers, denying them severally to keep his team’s hope alive in the early stage of the encounter.
Dede on the 13th minute while trying to halt Insurance’s attack, miscalculated his defense and trapped Ojo Tolulope from a promising attack; the center referee had no option than to point to the penalty spot to give Insurance the chance to go one goal up – Daniel Johnson stepped up to the kick, made no mistake with his kick as he tucked home a fine finish to hand his team the lead on the 15th minute.
The Oluyole Warrios were awakened by that goal and they surged forward in search of an equaliser, mounting pressure on the Vipers’ defense. Moments later, Malomo Ayodeji will not miss his target after been well found by Abayomi Adebayo, he struck at goal and leveled the game on the 25th minute.
3SC began to gain their ground in the game against a shaky Insurance as they sourced for an advantage over the ‘Benin Arsenal’. Ojo Tolulope got close on the 44th minute for 3SC but Abbey Benson went all out to have him blocked, making sure the first half ended in nobody’s favour.
Hostilities resumed and it was Shooting Stars that took the first initiative with Enuademu Chinedu forcing Insurance’s goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie to a save with a low drive curler in just three minutes into the second half.
Not again! Ojo Tolulope twice in seven minutes failed to give his side the much needed goal they begged for, first on the 58th minute when he somehow couldn’t hit target. He rose highest at the near post and failed to dim the Stars with a cross, Another wasted opportunity came in the 65th minute when Dede once again pulled a save from his dangerous header at a time his team was looking for the assurance.
The pressure mounted by Shooting will come to success this time! Raheem Nafiu on the 83rd minutes connected well with Gafar Olafimihan’s pass, stood tall inside the Insurance box and blazed it home to send his team’s supporters into jubilation, that would be the goal they needed and they will go into their game against Remo Stars in a confident mood to book their passage to the 2021/2022 NPFL season.