By Our Lagos Correspondent
LAGOS — It was the “Oga Boys” who showed the Oluyole Warriors who’s boss in a South-West derby that was decided before some fans had even found their seats.
Joseph Arumala proved to be the shining light at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, netting a predatory strike in just the second minute to secure a vital 1-0 win for Ikorodu City over Shooting Stars (3SC).
The game was billed as a clash of the titans, with both sides locked on 35 points heading into the weekend.
But while the “Stars” from Ibadan were expected to twinkle, they were ultimately eclipsed by a resilient Ikorodu side that refused to buckle under late pressure.
The game exploded into life almost instantly.
Following a stinging effort from Tosin Oyedokun that the 3SC keeper could only parry, Arumala reacted quickest. Like a shark in the box, he rifled the rebound into the roof of the net, sending the home support into a frenzy.
Shooting Stars spent the remaining 88 minutes chasing shadows and an equalizer.
Despite the introduction of new signing Ibrahim Ayoola for his debut and a flurry of tactical shifts from the bench, the Warriors couldn’t find a way through the Ikorodu “Great Wall.”
The result sees Ikorodu City leapfrog into third place in the NPFL standings, now sitting pretty on 38 points.
For Shooting Stars, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, leaving them stuck in sixth and wondering how they let the derby points slip away so early.
In a league where every goal is gold, Arumala’s early strike was pure 24-karat.
