High-riding Ikorodu City thrash Akwa United 4-1, move up to third position

Determined to buck the trend of Lagos teams returning to the lower division after just one year in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), Ikorodu City have taken their debut campaign in the elite league with as much power and finesse as the best of the teams in the class.

After a few weeks of acclimitisation in the upper chamber, the team have gone to all their games since Week Five without fearing any opponent. They showed such grit again, yesterday, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, where they thrashed former Nigerian champions, Akwa United, 4-1.

It looked so easy for the Ikorodu boys, who have mastered the art of reducing even the biggest teams to cubs, home and away.

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Yesterday’s victory dance started as early as the third minute when Tosin Oyedokun put the boys ahead. But Akwa United made scores even in the 36th minute through Chijioke Alaekwe.

The Uyo boys, thereafter, put up a stiff resistance, but fans inside the arena knew that it was just a matter of time before Ikorodu City restored their lead. And that they did in the 48th minute when Emmanuel Solomon made it 2-1 to the delight of the home crowd.

As it was in the first half, so also was it in the second as Solomon made it 3-1 a minute into the second stanza. Ayomide Cole completed the rout in the 71st to push Ikorodu City to the third position on the table.

In other games played at the weekend, Bendel Insurance beat Plateau United 2-1, Lobi Stars defeated Kwara United 1-0, while El Kanemi Warriors were held to a goalless draw by Bayelsa United.

Leaders, Rivers United, defeated Kano Pillars 1-0, second-placed Remo Stars slumped to a 0-1 defeat to Niger Tornadoes, while Heartland beat