Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan, on Saturday, defeated visiting Plateau United FC of Jos 2-1 in their opening match of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The Shooting Stars, parading only four of their old players in the starting eleven, struggled to take hold of the match played at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
They however maintained a fair share of the game’s dominance through the use of the flanks and testing goalkeeper John Amah with feeble shots from some tame offensives.
Shooting Stars got it right finally in the 36th minute, when Mutiu Olawale lifted from the left side in the middle for Ayobami Adekunle to rise and head down past Amah.
Plateau United should have drawn level seven minutes later, when a low pullout swing from the left flank dropped in the goal area.
Gali Falke saved the situation with a timely clearance.
The hosts heightened their offensive tempo in the second half with some changes, benefiting from one of such in the 76th minute.
Substitute Anayor Ogbonna, five minutes after coming on, placed himself well to glance-head past the goalkeeper a pullout from the left flank.
The visitors pulled a goal back almost immediately to set the tone for a nervy end to the game as both sides heightened their play to gain advantage.
But the scoreline remained unchanged till the end.
