Uche Ihuarulam first goal in the orange and blue jersey could not prevent a 10-man Sunshine Stars from falling to his former side, Ifeanyiubah in Sunday’s NPFL contest at the Fortress.
Coach Kabiru Dogo made a few changes for the reverse fixture with the Anambra Warriors on match day 20, with midfield mainstay, Jide Fatokun missing out due to accumulation of cautions while Silas Nwankwo and Ihuarulam were deployed upfront.
And it took Ihuarulam 23 minutes to make his presence felt in a familiar ground, finishing in cold blood fashion into the top right corner off a well-worked out ball from Fuad Ekelojuoti. He whisked away momentarily, but hold off his celebration afterward.
The hosts restored parity at the half hour mark through Samuel Kalu who profited from the sloppiness of the poorly-grassed playing surface to guide into David Ariyo’s net off Ekene Awazie’s cross in front of goal.
It was 2-1 for Ifeanyiubah three minutes before the break as Abdullahi Aliyu slotted past Saliu Suleiman who replaced injured Ariyo after the visitors failed to clear their backline from an Ikenna Cooper’s shot.
The Akure landlords emerged from the locker room for the second half rejuvenated and were looking to launch a possible come back before having their work cut out with the dismissal of Kehinde Adeyemi in the 58′ for a second bookable offense.
Sunshine Stars showed character and kept the Warriors at the edge, however any hope of a comeback was quashed by Chigozie Chikwelu who fired into the bottom left 13 minutes from time to seal the win for the Abambra Warriors.
Sunshine Stars slipped a place to 5th on the NPFL log with 30 points following the loss and next host Enugu Rangers in Akure on match day 21.
Sunshine XI Ariyo (Suleuman 35′); Akobundu, Adeyemi, Alimi, Olulayo; Abe (C), Sadeeq (Hilary 47′), Ekelojuoti (Mustapha 80′), Omo Jesu; Silas, Ihuarulam
Subs Obanigba, Omaka, Adejubu, Adebayo
Cautions Adeyemi 37′ 58′ Olulayo 61′
Red Card Adeyemi 58′
