Shooting 1-0 Berger

Lukman Ijaya’s crucial header five minutes from time proved enough for Shooting Stars to subdue resilient ten-man Julius Berger side at the Lekan Salami stadium in Ibadan. Nigeriasports.com can report.

Despite having Jacob Akionbare sent off in the 22nd minute for a foul on Abayomi Adigun, Berger seemed set for a draw at the dreaded home ground of the former Caf Cup winners.

But Sunday Makama, who made several stunning saves, was beaten by substitute, Ijaya with five minutes left on the clock.

Ijaya's goal left the Berger bench shocked after they had witnessed their side withstand a tidal wave of shooting goal attempts.

As early as the fifth minute, Samson Abiodun-who has just been exonerated from the draconian red card scandal, was brought down in the Berger box and centre referee Shankoro did not hesitate to award a spot kick.

Strikingly, Abiodun Folorunsho shot the resultant penalty wide to the fury of the Ibadan fans.

Berger goalkeeper Makama saved well with his foot to deny Shakiru Lawal, while the lively 18-year-old expertly tipped Ademola's venomous strike away from a corner on the stroke of half time.

After the break, premier league top scorer Alausa was replaced by Abdulazeez, a substitution which drew jeers from the noisy shooting supporters.

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But neither Abdulazeez nor Eze could find a way past a resilient Shooting rearguard, well-marshalled by veteran Ajibade Babalade, Mutiu Adegoke and Ayinde Taiwo.

In the 70th minute pandemonium broke out at the VIP stand where Adewale Kuti, Julius Berger chairman was physically assaulted by angry fans of the home side.

It took the intervention of Adegboyega Onigbinde, General Manager of 3SC to save the situation while Kuti was forced to leave his seat to perch on his team’s bench.

With time ticking away and glaring signs that the club's fans were becoming disillusioned with the situation Ijaya headed in a corner from Ayinde Taiwo.

Man of the match, Makame was bitter that the goal was allowed to count.

“I am sad that there was no protection whatsoever from the match officials. I was pinned down by the shooting players and the referee ignored my cry and allowed the goal to stand,” he told Nigeriasports.com after the game.

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Shooting: Ige, Taiwo, Adegoke, Lawal, Babalade, Adigun, Sylvester, Omotayo (Ijaya 65), Abiodun, F.Abiodun, Ademola.
Subs Not Used: Okikiola, Adekola, Amusa, Enegwa, Akiruli, Fatusi.

J.Berger: Makama, Balogun, Ajibola, Olaniyi, Uche, Nnodim, Eze, Oseni (Oji 48), Alausa (Abdulazeez 62) Aikhonbare, Iyasile.
Subs Not Used: Afeso, Obianu, Yusuf, Ogbuje, Lawal