Our three games consecutive win run was brought to a halt at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State as we fell to a 2-1 loss to Abeokuta Stormers Sports Club in Matchday seventeen of the 2022 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The Oga Boys were enjoying a fine form as they raced into the quarter finals of the Lagos FA Cup before coming to face Stormers with a little change to the side from the previous Matchday.
LINE UP: GK: John Amah; Sebastine Godwin, Musa Habeeb, Gabriel Adewara, Idowu Yusuf; Gafar Ojo, Tosin Oyedokun, Taheer Abubarkar, Godwin Odibo; Anthony Okachi & Salami Farouk.
Stormers we’re the first to ask questions of John with their height advantage but the keeper was up to it as we finally settled and began controlling the game, creating half chances.
The host however went in front inside the first ten minutes from a set piece that found its man. The striker hit it first time on the volley, giving no chance to John as it went to the far corner.
We eventually found our rhythm and began to throw bodies forward and balls in the box, dominating play and searching for an equalizer with nine minutes left to play in the half when Taheer set up Yusuf for a thunderbolt from outside the box to bring us level.
The goal was Yusuf’s first for the club this season and it saw us through to the break level.
The second half became more difficult, with Okachi exiting the pitch in the first half due to injury and replaced by Ismail, Farouk was left to lead the line as our defense was placed on their toes with the new style from the home side which was to play long balls towards our goal.
The height advantage of the home side gave Ikorodu City tough times to cope with even as Salami Farouk missed a glorious chance to put us in front when he was found alone in the box but the strikers’ finish was hit straight at the keeper.
More missed chances for Ikorodu City and they were punished as the wing man went pass the fantastic Yusuf and delivered a ball deep into the box to find the striker who headed past John in goal.
The response from Ikorodu City was however not enough as the home side ran away with a win.
Next up for the Oga Boys is a tie with NPFL side, MFM FC in the quarter final of the FA Cup on Monday 20th, June 2022 and then Osun United visit two days later for a midweek clash in the NNL.