It was a sad 2-1 loss for Ikorodu City to Ekiti United at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in matchday five of the Nigeria National League (NNL) 22/2023 season to suffer a third consecutive defeat in the league.
Ikorodu City were hoping to end the first half of the season on a positive note but it wasn’t to be despite fighting back to draw level before conceding late in the game.
Just like in the exact fixture last season, the game started with a very early goal for the hosts, barely two minutes into the game, a poorly directed low cross from Olatunde Sunday took a wicked bounce just in front of the keeper Victor Ogbonna and that sent the ball in.
Sabastian Godwin and Salami Farouk made the match day squad for the first time this season and the duo made impacts as quickly as possible, commanding their positions and the latter created the first goal, setting up Ayomide Cole for his first ever goal in the NNL and first for the club in the league to take us level in the break.
The second half was feisty, tough and both teams were struggling to kill the game and with numerous changes from both sides, the home team restored the lead after a set piece wasn’t well defended and Pius Chikodi was on hand to direct the ball into the bottom corner from far out to seal the game for the home side.
It was the third meeting between the two clubs, the second played on Ekiti and both have been won by Ekiti United with Ikorodu City winning the only fixture played in Lagos as they anticipate the next meeting which will be the first in the second half of the league.
Ikorodu City now shifts attention to the Lagos State FA Cup final against Smart City Feeders on Sunday 23rd of April, 2023 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos and then play for the first time ever in the Federation Cup the same week.
SUBSTITUTIONS
OUT- Paul Aderibigbe IN- Taheer Abubarkar
OUT- Toheeb Gidado IN- Tony Joel
OUT- Tony Joel IN- Gidado Toyeeb