Sunday Emmanuel scored two spectacular free kicks as Sunshine Stars and Kwara United shared the spoils in an exhilarating Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) tie at Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure on Wednesday.
The match day 15 contest saw a very tight opening exhannges, with both sides showing eagerless for an early advantage.
However it is the visitors who will have the first say in the 20th minute through Alfred Stephen who pounced on a ball parried into his path by Sunshine Stars' goalkeeper, Henry Ayodele for the game's opener.
The hosts pressed successfully for a leveller in the 38th minutes when Abiodun Joseph was brought down right at the edge of the area to set the stage for Emmanuel's first moment of ingenious; the midfielder delivered an inch-perfect free kick past the wall and the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner for 1-1.
Five minutes into the restart, Sunshine Stars went close to taking the lead through Dajo Ojo who was denied by last-ditch save while second half substitute, Sikiru Alimi missed connecting a ball across goal surface by whiskers, moments before John Ohanu blasted high for the visitors in front of goal after profiting from some sloppy defending from the hosts.
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Another brilliant moment from man of the match, Emmanuel, again off a free kick, though from a farther distance this time – 30 yards out, gave Eze Chidiebere in goal for United no chance as Sunshine Stars took a deserved lead a minute after the hour mark.
However the Harmony Boys will only trailed for 10 minutes as they found an equaliser through Sunday Chinedu who managed to find space in front of the Akure Landlords' goal to head past Ayodele from a corner kick for 2-2.
After pressing to find a winner late on in vain, the Akure Landlords will rue a missed glorious chance from Alimi: the striker dribbled his way in into the area cleverly but watched his effort sailed agonisingly inches wide from goalmouth few minutes from time.
The result leave Sunshine Stars in the 17th positing with 16 points from 15 matches and next face Ifeanyiubah in Nnewi on Sunday while Kwara United remained at the basement with 15 points.
Kwara United coach, Abubakar Bala was the first of the two mangers to face the media after the thrilling 4 goals thriller and he appeared just satisfied with the outcome of the game.
"The result will boost the players morale more. It started from the win against Pilars, we won then in my first game in charge and we get a a draw now; their morale will be high. The most important thing is to change their mindset that we can do it.
"I was confident with the changes we made to explore their back line. I believe we can turn things around for this team to avoid relegation, that's why I accepted the job." Bala stated at the post match presser.
Sunshine Stars coach, Henry Abiodun stated: "We can only blame ourselves, had the opportunity coming back from a goal down. We had many opportunities not taken as well, the guys fought well, but a day that is not yours there is nothing you can do."
"We lack a bit of personality at the back and we are looking at the transfer window to beef up the team a little bit. This game is over and our focus is on the next game, I know they (the players) are disappointed now, we have just a session before travelling to address some lapses."
