Nigeria Premier Football League debutant, Ikorodu City FC, on Saturday shrugged off their nightmarish start in their elite league campaign to post a dominant 3-0 win over visiting Bendel Insurance FC.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports the Oga Boys after wasting a flurry of chances in the first half, scored all three goals in the second half.
The exciting NPFL Match Day 6 was played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 48th minute, courtesy of a well-timed header by Sporting Lagos import, Rivio Ayemwenre, after an amazing run by the skipper, Waliu Ojetoye.
The second goal soon came in the 55th minute as Kelechi Onwe scored his first-ever goal of top flight football, meeting a long throw from Tosin Oyedokun and heading past the Bendel Insurance keeper.
Not done, the Oga Boys added the third goal in the 73rd minute as substitute Toheeb Ajeyigbe marked his coming with a clean strike, taking out the goalkeeper and blasting into the top roof of the net.
Speaking to NAN on the sidelines of the match, captain of Ikorodu City FC, Waliu Ojetoye, said the win would inspire the team to win more matches.
Ojetoye said: “The match was a good fight from us.
“We really needed to start winning and having the first win today at home is a good head up for us.
“The previous matches were not too bad, only that we were unlucky in those matches.
“Now, we have shown great character with three goals.
“It means that we can do better in the games to come.
“This win should encourage our fans to come and support us more.”
Ojetoye said the win had nothing to do with the recent dismissal of their coach, Bright Ozebagbe
He added: “This is a good start for us.
“The win is not as a result of losing our coach, but we were just unlucky during his time.
“Now we are more fired up and we will continue to be better in the next games.”
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One of the goal scorers, Ajeyigbe, commended his team for the good results against the visitors, also known as Benin Arsenals.
He said: “I am very happy for the goal I was able score.
“We have been working for this moment, but thank God, it came through today.
“Our fans have stood by us and we are happy that they are behind us.
“Going forward, we need more wins to help us in the league.
“I also need to score more goals.
“I believe God can help me.”
NAN reports that the 3-0 demolition of Benin Arsenals at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena Onikan was the first victory recorded by the Oga Boys after gaining promotion to the NPFL.
The Lagos boys lost their first game in the elite division as Kano Pillars went riot with 3-0 win over them in Katsina.
In the second match, the Oga Boys got the first point away at Ilorin in a 1-1 draw against Kwara United, while the first home match against Rangers ended in a 0-1 loss.
The Oga Boys also lost 1-2 to another elite league returnee, Nasarawa United FC, in another match.
The NPFL Match Day 5 had Ikorodu City FC losing 0-1 to Plateau United in Jos.
Ikorodu City FC now occupies 17th position on the NPFL log with one win, one draw and three to losses with four points.
