Warri Wolves’ Gbolahan Salami totally outclassed Glo Premier League title hopeful, Sunshine Stars, 3-0 at the Warri Stadium on Saturday, leapfrogging the Akure Gunners to second on the log and going just three points off the leaders.
Salami marked his return from a five-game injury layoff with a hat-trick, scoring once in the first half and a brace in the second period, but it was a brilliant all-round performance by the home team who appear to have picked form at the right time of the season.
Wolves held the visitors by the jugular right from the first whistle and it took a series of last ditch clearances, some brave blocks and poor finishing to keep the scores level past the half hour mark.
Within that 30-minute period, Salami and winger Stanley Dimgba had fluffed a couple of chances, with the former shooting over the target when the latter’s ball found him unmarked in the area in the 13th minute.
But the surge of attacks from Wolves were never going away and three minutes before the break, they got their goal.
Lordson Ichull started up the counter, setting up Joseph Osadiaye who ran down Sunshine’s left and quickly found Salami.
The striker controlled well and advanced towards Ikechukwu Ezenwa’s left.
He lashed past the goalkeeper with great power and control, giving his side a deserved lead.
Wolves continued from where they stopped after the interval, with Dimgba yet again bearing down the right.
He left Sunshine Stars defender, Kingsley Udoh, in his wake before crossing low for Salami, but the striker was not quick enough on the ball.
But he was quick enough to react to a freak cross by Wolves captain, Goodluck Onamado, which hit Ezenwa’s upright and bounced out nicely for him.
His header was firm and into the open goal.
Tunde Adeniji would go close for the Akure Gunners when he got his head to Adebayo Adigun’s cross from a free-kick but his effort missed the target.
Dimgba would miss his own chance at the busier goal post moments later, skipping four challenges and exchanging passes with Salami, but the end product was unlike the initial move, sailing wide.
Youngster Lucky Emariojake would make his league debut late in the game as he replaced Dimgba who received a deserved ovation, but Wolves had one more goal in the kitty.
Deep into stoppage time, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, who had an excellent game in midfield, found Salami with an inch-perfect ball in a quick Wolves transition.
The striker, with Ezenwa advancing, executed a lovely dinked-finish to cap what was been a phenomenal day.
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