The Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan became the stage for a classic encounter on Wednesday, as Shooting Stars pulled off a dramatic victory that halted Rivers United’s recent dominance in this fixture. Having gone four matches without a win against the Port Harcourt side, the Oluyole Warriors finally broke the streak in a game defined by relentless intensity and a nail-biting finish.
The hosts were the more aggressive side from the opening whistle, testing the Rivers United defense early on. While goalkeeper Godgift managed to keep the scores level during the initial exchanges, the pressure from the home side was relentless. Their persistence was rewarded in the 33rd minute when Sodiq Ibrahim, who had come close moments earlier, calmly slotted home to hand Shooting Stars a deserved lead heading into the halftime break.
The second half saw a more determined Rivers United side emerge from the dressing room. Although Shooting Stars nearly extended their lead shortly after the restart, Godgift once again stood tall, pulling off a spectacular double save in the 53rd minute to keep his team in the hunt. That resilience eventually paid off in the 68th minute when the league leaders found the breakthrough they needed to level the score at 1–1.
The final stretch of the match turned into a high-stakes tactical battle. Both teams pushed hard for a winner, with chances falling to Ayodele Ismail and Adams Mustapha, but neither could find the back of the net. Just as it seemed the points would be shared, the game erupted in stoppage time.
In the 91st minute, substitute Qamar Adegoke carved out a moment of individual brilliance. Turning sharply inside the penalty area, he fired a clinical strike past the goalkeeper to snatch a dramatic victory for the hosts. The late goal sent the home supporters into a frenzy and secured a vital three points for Shooting Stars, lifting them to sixth place on the league table.
Despite the setback, Rivers United remains perched at the top of the standings. With a game still in hand, they remain the team to beat, but Wednesday’s loss serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in their title pursuit.
