Struggling Ikorodu United produced the shock result of the matchweek in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday when they defied all odds to defeat Heartland 1-0 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
With a tottering form all season and just four wins as well as only a win in their last 12 league matches before their trip to Heartland, the odds were mightily stacked against Ikorodu United even managing a result at Heartland who had only secured a draw in their previous game at Sunshine Stars.
Bookmakers had tipped the Naze Millionaires, who are former Nigerian champions, to stroll past Ikorodu United.
But the Oga Boys rewrote the script for this contest by earning a priceless win through Fatai Abdullahi’s goal.
Less than a minute after kickoff, Emeka Atuloma should have put Heartland ahead but he smashed his effort over the top, and at that point it looked like it was going to be one of those days for Ikorodu United.
Omo Johnson was next to have a clear sight of Ikorodu United’s goal and he could not score and in an attempt to stop him, Segun Fatunwase in the visitors’ goal suffered an injury that required him being taken to hospital and Adamu Azeez came off the bench to replace him.
Azeez did work his socks off stopping Atuloma, Omo Johnson, Anthony Oussou and Chidiebere Ajoku after Abdullahi had struck sweetly from all of 30 yards to score for Ikorodu United.
Oussou was unfortunate as one of his efforts came off the post with the impressive Adamu well-beaten.
When referee Ahmed Rufai signalled for full time, Ikorodu United head coach Theo de Jong and his men had succeeded in dragging Heartland into the deep end of the NPFL table with them.
Heartland and Ikorodu are now in the bottom-four of the NPFL table.
Kano Pillars moved into sixth place after a 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars. A goal each from Amos Gyang and Gambo Mohammed ensured that the Kano club did the double over Sunshine Stars.
The game between Plateau United and 3SC waited until the last quarter of an hour to produce talking points. First 3SC’s Omololu Waheed was sent off for conceding a spot kick which Benjamin Turba converted for the winner on 75 minutes.
A minute to time, Kelechi John, who apparently forgot he was on a yellow card, got the marching orders for time wasting following a second booking.
Kelvin Itoya’s winning goal from the spot on 66 minutes eased Warri Wolves’ relegation worries as they defeated Nasarawa United at the Warri City Stadium.
Hassan Babangida continued his fine individual form by scoring twice in Akwa United’s 3-1 win over MFM FC. He has now netted seven of his club’s last nine goals.
Ubong Friday got the other goal through a stoppage time free kick while Ifeanyi Ifeanyi netted near the end of the contest from the spot for MFM, who had two goals from Musa Newman and Sikiru Olatunbosun ruled out for offside earlier in the game.
Nigerian champions Enyimba continued to blow hot and cold as they lost 0-1 at Lobi. Nanen Imenger’s goal in the third minute was the difference as the Peoples Elephant drop to eighth from seventh place whole Lobi move into the top-four.
Credit: Supersports