NPFL: Late goal earns Nasarawa Utd 1-0 win over 3SC as Niger Tornadoes beat visiting Sunshine Stars 2-1

Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Sunday scored late to earn a 1-0 win over visiting Shooting Stars Football Club (3SC) of Ibadan in a thrilling encounter.
The 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 15 encounter watched by a huge crowd was played at the Lafia Township Stadium.
Before the encounter, 3SC had played six games unbeaten in the league.
They were in fine form against their resilient hosts who were desperate for a win to move up the log table.
In spite of no goal being scored till late in the match, the thrilling encounter was filled with a lot of missed chances by the home team.
The solid defending by the away team also forced many home supporters to applaud 3SC for their fine display.
However, when it seemed most likely that 3SC would extend their unbeaten run and pick a point like they did last season at the Lafia Stadium, Zenke Thomas struck.
He scored from close range in the 84th minute to send the home fans wild with joy.
Speaking to newsmen after the game, Head Coach of 3SC, Fatai Amoo, applauded both teams for their sportsmanship and resilience but rued his team’s lost chances and their late breakdown.
“That is football for you. Honestly, Nasarawa United worked hard for the win. They never gave up and eventually got the goal.
“But in my opinion, we were denied a penalty kick in the first half. However, I am not the referee,” he said.
Also speaking to newsmen, Seun Akinyemi, the captain of 3SC, described the defeat as a big shock given the efforts put in by his team to take something from the game.
“We started the game very well. So, till now I can’t believe we lost the game.
“But we thank God that we gave a good performance. We are going back to our home to fight for three points,” he said.
Meanwhile, Niger Tornadoes Football Club of Minna, on Sunday, defeated visiting Sunshine Stars FC of Akure 2-1 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter.
The NPFL Match Day 15 game was played at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja.
Ifeanyi Okoye got the match’s first goal through a header in the 45th minute after a long throw from Lukas Yahaya from the right side of the post.
Tornadoes had earlier secured a penalty kick in the first minute of the game after Okoye was tripped in the box by Ogoh Kelechi of Sunshine Stars.
The penalty kick was, however, lost by Okoye after a good save by Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke.
Tornadoes had their second penalty kick in the 67th minute, after Ibrahim Babawo was tripped in the box by Olorunleke.
Unfortunately, the hosts lost the penalty kick again, after Olorunleke saved a direct shot from Sadiq Suleiman.
The hard work and doggedness of the visiting team finally yielded result in the 71st minute, when Kehinde Adedipe equalised through a shot from the right side.
The visitors, thereafter, looked hungrier for success than the hosts, almost taking the lead in the 83rd minute.
Lukas Yahaya, however, scored Tornadoes’ second goal in the 90th minute after a Babawo assist.
Head Coach of Niger Tornadoes, Bala Abubakar, expressed his disappointment with the way his team lost the two penalty kicks they got.
But he said he was happy that the players were determined to win the game.
“I am excited that we finally secured the maximum three points,” Abubakar said.
Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper Olorunleke also said that he felt disappointed that they lost the game, in spite of saving the two penalty kicks awarded to the hosts.
“I would have been glad if the game had ended in a draw. Nevertheless, being an indigene of Kogi and playing on my home soil, I had made my people proud,” Olorunleke said.