By George Akpayen
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) newcomers, Ikorodu City, won their first game of the season on Saturday when they defeated Bendel Insurance 3-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
The Oga Boys were dominant from start to finish against a Bendel Insurance that looked listless all through the match and hardly troubled their opponents goalkeeper Oluwadamilare Aina who was making his debut.
The 0-0 scoreline after 45 minutes was far from a true reflection of the performance of the new boys who had two attempts cleared off the goalline by Bendel Insurance.
On 28 minutes, Solomon Alade was played through on goal he rounded the Insurance goalkeeper Suleiman Solihu but his attempt on target was cleared by Stanley Okorom.
Six minutes later, it was the turn of Emmanuel Solomon to watch as his effort looked to be heading into the net but was cleared on the goalline ensuring score stayed at 0-0 at the break.
Three minutes into the restart, Rivio Ayemwenre directed Waliu Ojetoye’s crosss into the net with his head at the far post to give Ikorodu City the lead.
Galvanised by Ayemwenre’s goal, Ikorodu City kept prodding and got the second on 56 minutes. A long throw-in from Tosin Oyedokun was met by towering midfielder Kelechi Onwe who outjumped two opponents and headed past Insurance goalkeeper for his team’s second.
The Oga Boys added the icing on the cake to win in style in the 74th minute. Another Ojetoye cross was poorly defended by Insurance, allowing Toyeeb Ajeyigbe, who had just come off the bench 12 minutes earlier, to steady himself and fire into the roof of the net from close range with Soliu sprawling on the turf in despair.
The win represents a first-ever win for Ikorodu City while it is the biggest defeat for Bendel Insurance in the league since a 3-0 loss to Heartland in March 2008 (via Opta Nigeria).
Just over 100 kilometres away from Lagos, precisely at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, the champions, Rangers International suffered a 1-0 defeat at Sunshine Stars.
Stephen Chukwude’s goal on 43 minutes was enough to seal a third win of the campaign for Sunshine Stars to lift them into fourth position on 10 points, three short of leaders, Rivers United who play on Sunday at Katsina United.
However, the early kickoff billed for Saturday at the Umuahia Township Stadium was called off after heavy rainfall left the pitch waterlogged. The match has now been rescheduled to hold on Sunday 8am Nigerian time.
Six other fixtures will also take place on Sunday.