Wasiu Jimoh converted a penalty five minutes before half time to condemn 10-man Rivers United to a 0-1 defeat to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in a closely-fought Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest in Ibadan on Saturday.<br /><br />United were reduced to ten men after Ofem Inah, who was making his season&rsquo;s debut in the absence of the suspended Ayobami Asekunowo, received a straight red card for upending Nojeem Olukokun in the box. He was the last man and had to go.<br /><br />United should have been at least two goals up before Jimoh scored in the 40th minute as Chukwunonso Okonkwo and Guy Kuemian wasted excellent chances inside the opening quarter hour at a frenzied Lekan Salami Stadium.<br /><br />Okonkwo, a live wire all evening, was extremely unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 19th minute as he watched a swerving low drive canon off the post with the Shooting Stars goalkeeper, Emmanuel Fabiyi beaten.<br /><br />The hosts&rsquo; only real chance of the half (before they eventually took the lead), arrived on the half hour when Sunday Rotimi easily saved Bright Babatunde&rsquo;s long range effort.<br /><br />Real clear cut opportunities were few and faw between after the break with Yusuf Jaiyeola wasting the visitors&rsquo; best chance to level matters with a header which he planted widein the 73rd minute following an exemplary delivery by substitute, Daniel Israel.<br /><br />The 3SC head coach, Kadiri Ikhana was full of charitable words for his vanquished opponents describing them as a &lsquo;great force&rsquo;.<br /><br />&ldquo;No doubt about it (Rivers United is a good team).If you combine Sharks and Dolphins FC (both clubs were merged to form Rivers United), you will have a great force.<br /><br />&ldquo;By the time the team blends, they will play better than this; I have no doubts about it,&rdquo; Ikhana told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA after the game.<br /><br /><b>Igho Kingsley</b><br />