“We Came With a Game Plan To Win” … Ogunbote. “We have our first penalty taker”… Dogo
Kwara United Football Club once again narrowly salvaged a 1-1 draw against Shooting Stars Sports Club in the match Day 8 fixture of Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) game held at the Kwara State Stadium Complex Ilorin, on Sunday.
The Afonja Warriors were the early birds to entertain their fans with great artistry football display dominating possession as their effort earned them a deserving penalty at the 20 minutes of the game as Shooting stars defender was adjourned to have handled the ball with his arms inside the box.
Unexpectedly, a former Shooting Stars forward, Samuel Ayorinde stepped forward to take the penalty against the team standing order in penalty hierarchy as his mates objected his decision.
As the fate would have it, the penalty was eventually blabbed off to hit the woodwork and thus gave the visitors impetus to rise in confidence and took it hard against the Harmony Boys
A run of play by the visitors was disrupted by Kwara United defender and the resultant free kick taken by 3sc midfielder, Lawal Abdulahi appeared too hostile for Kwara United goalkeeper, Adewale Adeyinka as Captain Malomo Taofeek gave the visitors the lead in the 44th minutes of play with a tap in rebound from the right corner
At the dot of half time, Shooting Stars captain, Malomo Taofeek was given a matching order for unsportsmanlike conduct having taken laws into his hands with his incessant complaints and had his team down to ten men at the break
At the resumption ,Kwara United wanted to capitalize on numerical advantage over the Oluyole Warriors as they pushed for an equaliser but Shooting Stars were very rugged and more ambitious to pick the first away victory on the road.
At the stoppage time, Kwara United were on an open play with Bernard Ovoke running on the flank and made a fantastic cross to Mohamed Alao who made no mistake to head an equalizing goal for the Harmony Boys.
The 7 minutes added time made no difference as the two Warriors settled for the draw at the regulation time .
At a post match conference, Kwara United handler, Kabiru Dogo expressed sadness over the disappointing result as he claimed that Ayorinde was not his first penalty taker in the team. “Though anybody can lose a penalty but Samuel Ayorinde is not my first penalty taker. This is a disappointing result for me but that’s football “.
On his own, Shooting Stars handler, Gbenga Ogunbote stated that he came with a game plan to win as he faulted the red card that distrupted his game plan.
‘The red card affected us as every match I play ,I set out my team to go for victory. “Be it Ilorin or anywhere, my target is to win. The red card affected us” The oracle reacted
Kwara United will next travel to Benin City, Edo State for their matchday clash against Bendel Insurance while Shooting Stars play hosts to Kano Pillars in Match Day 9 of Nigeria Premier Football League next weekend at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan
CREDIT: Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR)