Two second half goals from Akinsanmiro Ebenezer and Agbeko Morgan earned Remo Stars FC a 2-0l victory over Apex Krane FC at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State in matchday 17 of the ongoing Nigeria National League.

Head Coach, Daniel Ogunmodede made five changes to the side that lost 2-1 against Ibom Youth FC in Akwa Ibom. Agbeko Morgan, Akinsanmiro Ebenezer, Wisdom Samuel, Dada Oladimeji and Victor Osuagwu were called upon to be part of the game.

Both sides started brightly and it was the Sky Blue Stars that got the first attempt when Nduka Junior located Oyedele Adebayo who tried to get the ball at the back of the net but Njoku Ochenna cleared at sight.

Akanni Qudus with a brilliant run found Oyedele Adebayo on the left, he took the shot immediately but the visitor’s goalkeeper, Israel Kologwu parried and the referee sounded his whistle to indicate he was in an offside position.

The visitor came closer to get a goal after Njoku Ochenna found his way the final third of the host, he tried to square the ball towards James Collins and Bankole Kayode calmly intercepted.

The Sky Blue Stars were given a chance to go ahead from the spot after Oyedele Adebayo was infringed inside the visitor’s box, Agbeko Morgan took the kick and it went wide.

The host continued to find a goal, Agbeko Morgan got a beautiful pass from Akanni Qudus, he took anxiously and his attempt hit the side net.

Towards the end of the first half, the visitors through Uthuko Egbo and John Collins combined well to get the lead but Bankole Kayode rushed out of his box to intercept an attempt from John Collins.

The Sky Blue Stars had two beautiful attempts in the closing minutes through Agbeko Morgan but Israel Kologwu saved and immediately Agbeko Morgan got the ball to locate Akinsanmiro Ebenezer, but he couldn’t get to the ball early enough.

The second half started from where the host stopped with Agbeko Morgan getting another chance to give his side the lead but Israel Kologwu was brilliant enough to stop him yet again.

The host kept on knocking to get a goal after Akinsanmiro Ebenezer sent a thorough pass towards Agbeko Morgan, he swiftly dribbled Okoro Paul to shoot but it went over the bar.

Substitute Dada Oladimeji picked the ball from his half to find space upfront to locate Adah Mathias who immediately sent a pass to Akinsanmiro Ebenezer, he took anxiously and it went over the bar.

The goal finally came in the 75th minute after Adah Mathias found his way into the final third of the visitors, he took but the woodwork denied his chance and Oyedele Adebayo calmly located Akinsanmiro Ebenezer who then put the host ahead from close range.

Agbeko Morgan doubled the lead for the Sky Blue Stars Adah Mathias beautifully squared in a pass, and he was there to make it count for his side.

The host continued to push to get their third of the day after Dada Oladimeji raced with the ball towards the corner flank, he sent in a beautiful cross but Adah Mathias wasn’t there to put the ball at the back of the net.

In the closing minutes the Sky Blue Stars got their third goal after Aneka Bless located a free Victor Osuagwu who sent towards immediately to Dada Oladimeji to score but the referee ruled it offside.

Up next for the Sky Blue Stars is an away trip to Otujeremi Ughelli Stadium to face J. Atete on Saturday in one of match day 18 fixtures.

Meanwhile, Head Coach of Remo Stars FC, Daniel Ogunmodede has hinted that he told his boys not to be anxious to impress him but play to get the three points against Apex Krane FC.

The head coach who celebrated his birthday told the boys that the three points are more important because he would always celebrate his day but the points can’t be gotten back if lost.

The Sky Blue Stars defeated Apex Krane FC thanks to the second half goals from Akinsanmiro Ebenezer and Agbeko Morgan in the matchday 17 of the ongoing Nigeria National League.

In his words to RSFC Media, he also disclosed that he was tensed at half time when his boys haven’t gotten the goals during the first half of the game.

“Like I told the players at the interval, my birthday is not as important as the three points. The three points is the most important because I will always have another birthday but the three points if we had lost it will never come back again, so I let that know that we can’t afford to loss it.”

“They were very anxious, they wanted to impress me and make me happy, having a young boy like Morgan carrying the load of the team is difficult, the young boy wanted to impress. This is his second time losing a penalty consecutively, I don’t blame him but I know over time he will grow past this stage.”

“I was so tensed at the end of the first half, in all sincerity, I was so scared because I know we have to win, and we have to win to remain on top of the table, also to take pressure away from these kids.”

“They are small boys playing in the league for the first time, they are most of our youth players and I feel for the boys not really for me because not scoring in the first half brought a lot of pressure for us and the guys were unable to deal with the pressure.”

“I told them we have to win, if we don’t then we might likely end up third on the table, and we will feel more pressured than this game that we have just played. So instead of feeling the pressure upfront, let’s eliminate the pressure now with this game, we can do it, and they came out to do it.”