Resolute defending and incisive ball possession helped 10-man Ikorodu
United secure a 1-1 draw away at Lobi Stars in a rescheduled Nigeria
Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 23 game on Thursday.
The hosts were wasteful in front of goal, allowing De Jong's wards gather
the required momentum to secure only their second point away from home this
season and the new manager's first point in his second NPFL game. The Makurdi based club failed to win at home for the first time in seven games.
The hosts broke the deadlock with three minutes left to play in the first
half, Tony Okpotu went past his marker and lobbed the ball over substitute
goalkeeper, Adamu Azeez. Azeez came on for injured goalkeeper, Segun
Fatuwase in the opening seven minutes of the game.
The Oga Boys levelled the scores thirteen minutes into the second half, Kabir Balogun ghosts past his marker and slotted past hosts goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim. Balogun scored the winner in the first leg, his second against Lobi this season.
Lobi dominated the game but Ikorodu United's back-line was solid and compact, aborting all goal bound moves. Ikorodu goalkeeper, Azeez denied Okpotu in the 68th minute for the hosts opportunity to take the lead.
Ikorodu's Shedrack Francis was later sent off for a second booking for a foul on Okpotu. With seven minutes remaining before the final whistle the hosts won a penalty when Raphael Ayagwa was felled inside the visitors box. Okpotu blazed the penalty over from 12 yards.
The visitors held on for a massive point on the road. The result leaves
Lobi to seventh position on the log with 35 points while Ikorodu still sit
bottom with 16 points.
Naijafootballplus
No comments:
Post a Comment