By our Sports Correspondent
THE stars were aligned in Ibadan yesterday as Shooting Stars Sports Club (333SC) survived a late scare to edge out Nasarawa United in a five-goal NPFL classic.
In a match that had more drama than a West End play, the “Oluyole Warriors” proved exactly why they carry the celestial name, burning bright to secure a 3-2 victory that sent the home crowd into raptures.
The encounter began with the hosts looking to illuminate the pitch from the first whistle. It didn’t take long for the Shooting Stars to find their orbit. The attacking frontline, moving with the speed of a comet, tore through the Nasarawa defense, establishing a dominance that suggested a blowout was on the cards.
The local heroes lived up to the billing, finding the net with clinical precision. At 3-0, the “Solid Miners” looked buried deep underground, unable to cope with the celestial heat generated by the Ibadan giants. The Stars were twinkling, the fans were singing, and the three points looked bolted down in the trophy cabinet.
”We played like a team that belongs at the top of the galaxy,” said one jubilant fan. “When those Stars align, nobody in the NPFL can touch us.”
However, just as the Ibadan faithful were preparing to celebrate a clean sheet, a shadow fell over the Lekan Salami Stadium. Nasarawa United, refusing to be eclipsed, struck back with two quick-fire goals in the dying embers of the match.
The tension in the stadium was palpable as the 3-2 scoreline turned the final minutes into a nervy affair. The “Solid Miners” threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Stars, desperate to find an equalizer and steal a point under the floodlights.
Safe Landing
Ultimately, the Shooting Stars held their nerve. Despite the late wobble, the Ibadan side showed the “stellar” resilience required to stay ahead, clinging to their lead until the final whistle blew.
The result sees the Stars climb higher in the NPFL firmament, while Nasarawa are left to dig deep ahead of their next outing. For now, the night belongs to Ibadan—where the Stars are shining brighter than ever.
