Ikorodu City stayed organized enough to keep an early goal lead to ensure they edged past Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on a day that witnessed a low-scoring performance in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Thursday.
Joseph Arumala fired home from a rebound inside the second minute of the Southwest Derby at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos to earn City the bragging rights in the contest.
The win puts Ikorodu City in the top-three of the standings, three places ahead of 3SC.
The story is different for the defending champions Remo Stars who now find themselves in the relegation zone after defeat at Warri Wolves.
The champions suffered a 0-1 loss at the Southern Delta University Stadium in Ozoro after Chisom Orji netted the winner for Wolves on 52 minutes.
Remo Stars have dropped into the bottom-four following a poor run of form that has seen them win just twice in their last 10 NPFL matches (D1 L7).
New boys, Kun Khalifat FC, ended their winless run of seven matches with a 1-0 triumph over Kwara United. Chikamso Amaefula scored the winner on 52 minutes but they still remain bottom of the pile.
Two other games on Thursday ended goalless.
Bayelsa United and Niger Tornadoes shared the points in the day’s early kickoff while Bendel Insurance and Barau FC played out 0-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.