Our first ever meeting with Inter Lagos ended in a 1-1 draw in the Nigeria National League (NNL) 23/24 season at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Coach Sadiq Dabiri made two changes to the team that won against FC ONE Rocket. Injured Ayomide Cole was unavailable for selection while Ndukwe FearGod was dropped to the bench for Benjamin Jatau and Sulaimon Babatunde.
LINE UP: GK: Godwin Victor, Ojetoye Waliu(C), Habeeb Musa, Idoko Daniel; Onwe Kelechi, Oyedokun Tosin, Toyeeb Gidado; Benjamin Jatau, Salami Farouk & Sulaimon Babatunde.
Being a first meeting between both sides, it was quite a jittery start for both teams and unlike our third minute goal last time out, the team took some time to settle into the game and control possession.
Few clear cut chances but the opponents found the breakthrough first after 25 minutes, picking up the ball in the middle, running and shooting at Victor Godwin in goal who got a strong hand on it but Inter Lagos striker Jimoh Oni was first to the rebound and forced it past the recovering Victor to give the home side the lead.
It was the second time we fell behind this season and both in away fixture was Ikorodu City unable to come back last time our against Giant Brillars FC. Three first half substitutions were made by coach Dabiri, Paul Aderibigbe and Fuad Ekeleojuoti were first introduced for Sulaimon Babatunde and Benjamin Jatau, before Afoke Malik replaced Kelechi Onwe and the home side held the lead into the break.
Twelve minutes after the restart, it felt like a day going worse when centre back Daniel Idoko pulled a muscle and had to be replaced by Kareem Peter, then Emmanuel Sumo replaced Paul Aderibigbe on the hour mark and four minutes later, we were level.
A quick break started by Habeeb Musa’s header and touched forward by Emmanuel Sumo in the centre circle was pushed forward by Farouk Salami in pace, went all the way with a defender by him but still unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from just inside the box that hit the top left corner of the goal.
That was Farouk’s third goal contribution in two consecutive games as he scored and assisted against FC ONE Rocket last time out.
With the morale lifted, we kept pushing and throwing everything at it but there wasn’t to be a winning goal as it ended a goal each. It was Inter Lagos’s first point of the season and our first point away.
Up next is a game against NNL pros Gateway United at home in Lagos on Saturday 16th December 2023 with kickoff by 4:00pm WAT
SUBSTITUTIONS
OUT- Sulaimon Babatunde IN- Paul Aderibigbe- 30mins
OUT- Benjamin Jatau IN- Fuad Ekeleojuoti- 30mins
OUT- Kelechi Onwe IN- Afoke Malik- 37mins
OUT- Daniel Idoko IN- Kareem Peter- 57mins
OUT- Paul Aderibigbe IN- Emmanuel Sumo- 60mins