By Adeyinka Akintunde, Lagos on May 1, 2016

Ikorodu United yesterday recorded their first win since February 2016 in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), when they beat Heartland Football Club of Owerri 3-1 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos. The match was moved from their home ground, Onikan Stadium in Lagos Island, at the request of Supersport, which said the venue switch to MFM’s home ground would make it easier for the cable TV network to beam both matches live.

And what a memorable day it turned out to be for Ikorodu, which played Heartland of Owerri in the afternoon before MFM and Akwa United took to the field at night! But Ikorodu had to overcome an early scare to triumph. The visitors drew the first blood through their Beninoise forward, Anthony Oussou, who headed the ball into the net after an assist from Emeka Atuloma, but the Oga Boys hit back with goals from Junior Merenini, Moses Ebiye and Ifegwu Ojukwu to end their search for an outright win after nine matches. This victory gives Ikorodu United nine points in 14 NPFL matches, and they remain bottom of the table.

Ikorodu United had a fair game in the first 45 minutes, with goalkeeper Philip Acho stopping Moses Ebiye from scoring for Ikorodu, as early as two minutes into the match. But they later fizzled out and Heartland took advantage, scoring the opening goal ten minutes into the match. Ikorodu fought for an equaliser, creating opportunities, and got it a minute into added time of the first half.

Moses Ebiye took advantage of a poor defending from heartland, and got the second goal for the Lagos-based side, and it got worse for Heartland, as Zoumana Doumbia got a red-card, to gift Ikorodu a penalty, which Ifegwu Ojukwu converted in a cool manner.

Head Coach of Ikorodu United, Sam Okpodu, after the match, told Daily Sports: “It is a good win; it is a start for a lot of good things to come. The boys though young have been working really hard, but as it is with life, when you are doing bad, some good things need to come out, and this is what happened today. We are grateful to God, and to the fans.”

On what to expect, Okpodu said: “Our job is to build on this one today.”

Ikorodu United player Adesina Joseph Oduntan expressed excitement at winning the match. He told Daily Spots: “We prepared very hard, with all our heat for this game, and we got the result. We are coming up; this is our first time in the league and they had used the advantage on us. But we are coming back.”

Asked about the next match for Ikorodu United (against Kano Pillars in Kano), he predicted a tough match “but at least, we will get a draw.”

The Media Manager of Ikorodu United, Ayoola Babatunde Oluwatobiloba, thanked the Agege fans “for being supportive to the Ikorodu players, even when they were a goal down. They encouraged the boys to the end. This win has been long time overdue.”

In the other match, Mountain of Fire and Miracles also won 3-0 against Akwa United, to get 22 points from 14 NPFL matches. A goal from Stephen Odey and a brace from Sikiru Olatunbosun, who just won the MFM FC player of the month award, did the job for the Olukoya Boys. This brace can be seen as a birthday gift to the striker, as he celebrated his birthday.

Coach of MFM FC, Ifeanyi Ilechukwu, described the match as a fantastic one. For him, “this result is good for the players, our fans, and the management.” Ilechukwu described the next MFM FC match, against Lobi Stars as “a sure win.”

•Photo shows Ikorodu United players.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 1, 2016

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