Sunshine Stars secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over newcomers Ikorodu City in a frenetic Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 20 game at Ikenne on Saturday.
Mid-season signing Dangbana Alao stole the show, bagging a brace on his Sunshine Stars debut, while Shola Adelani also scored twice for Ikorodu City.
The hosts got off to a flying start, with new signing Ahmadu Liman scoring the opener with an intended cross inside 16 minutes.
Promise Awosanmi doubled the lead four minutes later, poking home the rebound after Ikorodu City’s goalkeeper James Faith parried Elma Arunta’s shot.
Alao, who replaced Arunta in the 34th minute, scored with his first touch, extending Sunshine Stars’ lead to 3-0.
Ikorodu City pulled one back before the break courtesy of Adelani, but Alao struck again in the 74th minute to restore the hosts’ two-goal cushion.
Emmanuel Solomon pulled one back for the visitors in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late, as Sunshine Stars held on for a 4-3 victory.
In other NPFL match-day 20 action, defending champions Rangers International suffered a 2-1 defeat at home against Niger Tornadoes, while Abia Warriors secured a 1-0 win over Bayelsa United courtesy of Sunday Megwo’s fifth-minute goal.
