Bendel Insurance FC endured a frustrating afternoon in Ibadan on Friday, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Shooting Stars Sports Club in their Matchday 13 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Bold sports reports.
The Benin Arsenals appeared poised to secure a valuable point at the Lekan Salami Stadium after putting up a disciplined display against the Oluyole Warriors, only for two late goals to turn the contest in favour of the hosts.
Both sides struggled to find a breakthrough in the opening half, with Bendel Insurance showing resilience at the back to keep Shooting Stars from taking the lead before the interval.
The visitors maintained their defensive organisation after the restart, continuing to frustrate their opponents and holding on to the possibility of avoiding a repeat of last season’s experience at the same venue.
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However, their resistance was eventually broken in the 84th minute when Olakunle Akala produced a stunning effort from over 25 yards to put Shooting Stars ahead, sparking celebrations among the home supporters.
The hosts extended their advantage in the 92nd minute through Qamar Adegoke, who took advantage of a defensive lapse following an injury to Bendel Insurance defender Gabriel Lekan, who was down on the pitch.
Bendel Insurance refused to surrender despite the two-goal deficit and pushed forward in search of a late response. Their persistence yielded a goal in the closing seconds of the six minutes of added time, as Alex Oweilayefa calmly found the net to give the visitors a lifeline.
However, the late consolation could not change the outcome, leaving Kennedy Boboye’s men to return to Benin City empty-handed.
The defeat leaves Bendel Insurance with 21 points from 13 matches, with their attention now turning to their Matchday 14 assignment against Doma United.
The Benin Arsenals will welcome Doma United to Benin City on Sunday, November 22, hoping to respond positively to the setback in Ibadan and return to winning ways in front of their home supporters.
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