Ikorodu City FC required a brilliant second-half display as they thrashed Niger Tornadoes 3-0 in the Matchday 33 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos State.

In a vital game heading into the last five matches of the season, Oga Boys showed composure in a keenly contested first half, dominating the midfield as we dictated the rhythm of play. In a first half devoid of goals but not action, we got our first good chance in the 10th minute when Kelechi Onwe was fouled outside the box. The resulting set piece was taken by Moses Shodeinde, who delivered an inswinger into the box to find Okechukwu Nwanna, but his header missed the target.

LINEUP: Oluwadamilare Aina; Waliu Ojetoye, Gideon Manasseh, Chibuike Oheagbulam, Leonard Ngenge; Onwe Kelechi, Salawu Yusuf, Emmanuel Solomon; Moses Shodeinde, Adelani Shola, Okechukwu Nwanna. 

Oga Boys came close again in the 30th minute through a fine interchange between Emmanuel Solomon and Gideon Manasseh, as Solomon almost broke clean through on goal but was flagged offside. Still piling pressure on the visitors, we almost took the lead heading into the break through a free kick after a handball by a Niger Tornadoes player. The free kick from Salau Yusuf was crossed into the box, and Okechukwu’s header was punched out by the goalkeeper for a corner. Salau took it again, and Okechukwu’s header was again punched out by the goalkeeper, followed by a goal-line clearance from the rebound to keep the score level at the end of the first half.

In the second half, our gaffer Nurudeen Aweroro continued with his usual introduction of super sub Ayomide Cole alongside Chineme Chinonso for Okechukwu and Solomon in search of an opener. The substitutes almost made a quick impact through a pass from Shola Adelani to Waliu Ojetoye, who crossed it in, but sadly, Cole and Chinonso failed to make contact as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

With the visitors deciding to sit back while we continued to dictate the rhythm of play, we finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute through a perfect cross from Salau to Cole at the back post, who struck a powerful shot that was mistakenly put into the net by the goalkeeper for an own goal to the delight of our supporters.

Oga Boys doubled the lead in the 83rd minute with a beautiful goal under the floodlights from Shola, who calmly rounded the goalkeeper and found the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season, off a fine assist by Waliu—recording a half-century of goals for us in the top flight.

In the 90+3 minute of additional time, our lads added icing on the cake through super sub Cole with a solo finish, slamming the ball into the roof of the net off a pass from Kelechi to a roar of joy from our supporters, who have now witnessed nine goals in our last two games.

The game ended 3-0 in favour of Ikorodu City FC, as the victory over Niger Tornadoes ensured the achievement of our target in our debut top-flight season—securing safety.

UP NEXT

Following the victory over Niger Tornadoes, the team now turns their attention to the President Federation Cup game against Beyond Limits in Edo State, followed by back-to-back away fixtures in the league against El-Kanemi Warriors and Bendel Insurance.

SUBSTITUTES

OUT: Okechukwu Nwanna IN: Ayomide Cole 46’

OUT: Emmanuel Solomon IN: Chineme Chinonso 

OUT: Salau Yusuf IN: Folarin Temitope 90’

OUT: Chibuike Oheagbulam IN: Okekeaniokete Uzochukwu 90’