Underdogs Wonderxchange stuns Sunshine Stars to record first-ever victory against State team

The Selection

The gaffer, Olayiwola Micheal, kept his faith with the side that claimed an emphatic win over Emalex Fc two days ago, making just one change as he recalled forward Sunday Amaechi to the starting lineup and dropped Hassan Musa to the bench. A decision which later turned out well as Amaechi went on to grab the match winner for the lions.

Quickly Chinedu

This contest might have been tagged as just a preseason contest, but both sides gave the fans who turned up for the game in good numbers an exemplary display that was much more than just a preseason game.

 

 

The State side started the game by dictating play and had the majority of the ball possession, with the lions being made to chase the ball as the Akure gunners passed the ball around with beautiful exchange of passes. We, however, got the lead against the run of play in the 3rd minute when Adepoju Onome sent in a square play from the right side with Okorie Chinedu pouncing on an error by a defender to get to the ball before him and sent a low drive effort into the net.

 

 

Undaunted by the goal, Sunshine stars picked up from where they left and got the reward in the 11th minute through a fantastic solo effort by Olalusi Micheal. The midfielder dazzled his way through the left side and breezed past the defenders before slotting home from a tight angle to restore parity for the Stars. The game got physical and tense as the referee had a lot of talking and cautioning to do. Youngster Nedu could have given the stars the lead in the 40th minute, but Yakubu Emmanuel was up to it and calmly saved his effort.

 

 

We took the lead in the 45th minute through yet another defensive error after Chinedu chased and pressed to force a defender into making an error which was capitalized on by Sunday Amaechi, who pounced on the loose ball and fired home with a low drive shot to take us into the break with the lead.

 

Through it all

The second half resumed with the State side throwing all they’ve got at the Lions, but the boys’ resolute defending kept them at bay.

The referee went on a booking spree as the time whined down and dished out five yellow cards to the Lions. 

 

 

 

The Stars continued to press for the equalizer and did everything possible. Still, our resolute defense and our GK Emmanuel Yakubu had an answer to every question asked and threw their body in the line of shots when needed to make sure the score line remained unchanged.

 

 

Goalscorer Olalusi Michael would have thought he got the stars back into the game with an equalizer after 8 minutes of added time had been played when he broke free in the 18-yard box and sent an effort to the right side of our goal with Emmanuel Yakubu managing to save the effort with a diving save much to the disbelief of the midfielder who thought he had gotten the much-needed equalizer.

 

 

The Lions held on till 11 minutes of added time when the referee decided to bring the game to an end, much to a loud shout of victory from the stands by our supporters, who cheered the lions to victory from start to finish.

 

What’s next

The Lions will have the weekend off and resume back to training on Monday.

Wonderxchange (3-4-3): Emmanuel; Sunday, Lekan, Seun, Afolabi(Oloore 90+); Adedayo, Onome(Akpovie 66), Omolade; Oluwatobi(Prince 85), Amaechi(Musa 76), Chinedu 

Unused sub: Samson, Temitope, 

Booked: Afolabi 29; Seun 48; Omolade 55; Adedayo 61; Musa 78; Sunday 81;

Scorer: Chinedu 3; Amaechi 45

Sunshine Stars (4-3-3): Seyi; Abe, Ojo, Adeyemi, James, Habib, Michael, Promise, Jide, Suraj, Samson

Scorer: Olalusi 11