Ikorodu City FC produced a spirited performance on Wednesday, claiming a 3–2 home victory over Bayelsa United FC in a thrilling Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 36 encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
The Oga Boys made a strong start, opening the scoring in the 2nd minute through Okechukwu Nwanna, who headed home a cross from captain Waliu Ojetoye.
Bayelsa United drew level in the 11th minute, capitalising on a goalkeeping error by Oluwadamilare Aina, who mishandled a back pass from teammate Austin Uzondu.
Ikorodu City regained the lead in the 19th minute, when Oyedokun unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that beat goalkeeper Clinton Ezekiel.
The visitors responded once again in the 26th minute, with Auwal Sadiq nodding in from close range to make it 2–2. Ikorodu City believed they had restored their advantage in the 33rd minute, but Tosin Adelani’s goal was disallowed for offside.
Head coach Nurudeen Aweroro made tactical substitutions at the break, introducing Ayomide Cole and Moses Shodeinde to bolster the home side’s attack. The move proved effective, as Shola Adelani headed in from an Austin cross in the 62nd minute to restore Ikorodu City’s lead.
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Bayelsa United’s Dare Ogundare expressed disappointment with the result but commended his team’s resilience.
“We believed we could earn a draw if we did the right things,” Ogundare told reporters. “Though we lost, we fought hard. Ikorodu City ended our unbeaten run, perhaps the referee’s decisions favoured them.”
Coach Aweroro attributed the win to his players’ positive response to his halftime instructions.
“I’m pleased with the result. The boys listened and fought back, although they were at times overconfident,” he said. “There were moments I wasn’t satisfied, so I addressed them, and they responded. I was never in doubt that we would win.”
Following the victory, Ikorodu City move up to fourth place on the NPFL table, with 56 points from 36 matches (16 wins, 8 draws, and 12 defeats).