Dolphins thrash Shooting Stars in Port Harcourt Victor, fresh from Saturday’s Athens 2004 Olympic Games qualifying match against Egypt, where he also got a goal pounced on a free kick taken by Joseph Eyimofe in the 40th minute after Haruna Musa was tripped at the edge of the Shooting Stars penalty area. Shooting Stars equalized just before half time when Edith Agoye, reminiscent of Julius Aghaowa’s goal against Senegal at Mali 2002 capitalised on a communication break down between Skipper Ahmed Abdulrahman to slot a loose ball behind a bemused Sunday Rotimi in Dolphins’ goal. Misses galore But there was so much drama in the first half that the game would have had a handball score if not for reckless shooting by attackers of both teams Dolphins should have gone one up in the 3rd minute when Ezeji was freed by Ochuko Ojobo and with just the keeper to beat, his first touch failed him and he shot wide. Two minutes later, Kelechi Osunwa took four defenders on dancing lessons and passed to Ochuko Ojobo who brushed aside his marker and freed Haruna, but his shot at the edge of the eighteen yard box went wide. The Dolphins players knowing that Shooting Stars players were still unsettled continued to pile on the early pressure and in the 7th Victor Ezeji chested down in the box for Kingsley Williams who’s shot from 30 yards ricocheted off the cross bar but poor finishing ensured scores remained goalless. After soaking up the early pressure, Shooting Stars recovered and started to put pressure on the home side even hitting the cross bar in one of their raids that left Sunday Rotimi glued to the ground, but scores still remained nil- nil. In the 19th minute HAruna Musa was freed by a defence splitting pass but he failed to chip over on rushing Kola Ige as he shot straight at him. Four minutes after that there was a beautiful combination between Kinglsey Williams, Ochuko Ojobo, Williams again and then Ezeji, but Ochuko blasted wide the gift of a pass from Ezeji. A minute later, Ochuko Ojobo wasted another pass from Kingsley Williams; rather than giving it to Ezeji who was free in the middle and screaming out to him, he shot wide. Despite the domination of the game by Dolphins, Shooting Stars showed they are a side that must be taken seriously whenever they held on to the ball, as they should sublime passing and depth in playing personnel. Edith Agoye made himself relevant in the 25th minute when he broke free at the center of the pitch and successfully edged out Ahmed Abdulrahman but Yakubu Attah made good cover for his captain, but Dolphins took up the gauntlet five minutes later as Victor Ezeji ran Emmanuel Femi ragged on the left but his chip over Kola Ige was saved by the upright. A minute later, Kelechi Osunwa was freed by Ezeji freed but his shot to the blind side missed the upright by a hair’s breath. Shooting Stars immediately started one of their rare attacking forays but Agoye’s shot screamed past keeper Rotimi The first half ended with goalkeeper Kola Ige taken off for Segun Hamzat, himself a former Dolphins player At the start of the second half, Godwin Emmah replaced injured Yakubu Attah And with the half just five minutes old, Ochuko Ojobo displayed some deft touches on the right before pulling out for Uduak Udofia who headed beyond the reach of Hamzat. At this point Shooting Stars looked to be in disarray whilst Dolphins attacked on all fronts but still could not find the net. The the 57th Ochuko Ojobo outsprinted his marker, ran all of thirty yards but lazily passed to Musa who failed to connect. Joseph Cole comes in for Ochuko Ojobo in the 58th minute and one minute later he finds Eyimofe on the left who’s pull out to Ezeji was wasted Joseph Cole still bustling with energy rode over Emmanuel Femi, and pulled out for Ezeji who had the easiest of tap ins for his second and third for Dolphins. Edith Agoye was taken off for Sule Adepegba but that did not stop the rampaging Port Harcourt side who were obviously finding it difficult to score. With 70 minutes gone on the clock, Joseph Eyimofe feinted a pull out but aimed for the post, and with Hamzat Segunalready out of the way, the cross bar saved Shooting Stars from another embarrassing situation. Joseph Cole was still in rampaging form and he waltzed past Musa Abioye who elbowed him and got red carded by the referee. At the final blast of the whistle the sparse crowd at the stadium obviously went home content that they had their money's worth. Dolphins Subs not used Shooting Stars subs not used
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