By George Akpayen
Ikorodu City’s poor start to their debut season in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) continued on Saturday as they lost again at their Mobolaji Johnson Arena ground in Lagos to Nasarawa United. The match ended 2-1.
The NPFL newcomers enjoyed the bigger share of possession but Nasarawa United claimed the full points in a game that flowed end-to-end.
The match revved into life on the stroke of halftime when Nasarawa United took the lead in a counter-attacking move that allowed their captain Anas Yusuf to side-foot from close range past Ikorodu City goalkeeper James Faith. It was Anas’ fourth goal in five matches which puts him top of the goalscorers’ chart.
The Oga Boys responded swiftly in added time of the first half when ThankGod Chilaka headed Waliu Ojetoye’s cross beyond Nasarawa United goalkeeper Mohammed Galadima to ensure the score ended one apiece at halftime. It was actually Ikorodu City’s first goal in the top division after 315 minutes of their appearance in the NPFL.
The late equalizer before the break seemed to have energized Bright Ozebagbei’s men as they matched Nasarawa United for every blade of the grass.
However, Kabiru Balogun produced one brilliant moment to help Nasarawa United take the full points. Balogun curled a direct free kick around City’s wall for the winner on 65 minutes to hep the Solid Miners to their first full points of the campaign.
The late kickoff at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo also produced an identical scoreline with Sunshine Stars defeating their hosts, Akwa United, 2-1.
Former Akwa United midfielder, Seth Mayi, returned to haunt them by scoring one and assisting the other. Mayi created the chance for Chinedu Nwosu to open scoring for Sunshine Stars after 19 minutes.
Mayi then got among the goals nine minutes before full-time when he headed in AbdulAzeez Ajagbe’s corner kick past Akwa United goalkeeper Seidu Mutawakilu.
Two minutes after Mayi doubled Sunshine Stars’ lead, Wisdom Ndon headed home to give Akwa United a lifeline that never happened.
Akwa United have now failed to win a match in their opening three fixture including two at home as Sunshine Stars climb into second place on the standings until Sunday’s matches are concluded.