Ikorodu City took one more step forward in their quest for continental football yesterday, as they thrashed Wikki Tourists 3-1 in their rescheduled Matchday 36 encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onika, Lagos.
Salami Farouk put Ikorodu City ahead in the 4th minute of action, meeting Odinaka’s header off a corner at the backpost to smash in the game’s first goal.
With pressure consistently being piled on the visitors, one quickly turned to two. Abayomi Ayodeji rounded the goalkeeper after an exquisite passage of play to score the second goal of the game and a landmark 100th goal for Ikorodu City in the NPFL in just two seasons.
Star player and contender for Ikorodu City player of the season, Joseph Arumala, also got in on the act, scoring the third for Ikorodu City. Joseph isolated his defender on the far side, gained a penalty off the tormented defender, and dusted himself to dispatch the spot kick for the game’s third goal and his 13th goal of the NPFL season.
Jonathan Mariga pulled one back for the visitors in the second half, but their rally was a little too late as Ikorodu City held on for maximum points and a continental place on the standings in the NPFL.
Battle for third.
Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Abia Warriors, and Bendel Insurance of Benin are locked in a battle for third place with two games to go. Ikorodu currently leads on 58 points, closely followed by Shooting Stars on 57 points, with Bendel Insurance and Abia Warriors tied on 55 points.
The Lagos FA Cup winners will hope to clinch the last continental spot in what will be just their second season in the top flight of Nigerian football
