Rotherham United of England striker, Freddie Ladapo made hay for the first time this season with the English Championship returnees, as he hit a double that fetched his side a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, who also had their Nigerian-born striker, Dominic Solanke scoring for the second weekend running; but Alex Iwobi could not save Everton from losing to Leeds United.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, despite only getting back to the second-tier league at the end of last term and facing a team that had been in the English Premier League during the same period, Ladapo and his colleagues held their own pretty well.
Ladapo and his colleagues in Semi Ajayi’s former club were worthy of the point the eventually got on the evening, after forcing The Cherries’ goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic to pull off many saves in an entertaining encounter, which saw Solanke in an early miss, when he failed to hit target after sliding in ahead of Rotherham’s goalkeeper, Jamal Blackman.
Blackman was then at fault as he collided with the same Nigerian-born striker on the left-hand side of the box to give away a penalty, which Stanislas hit down the middle to give the visitors a 20th-minute lead, after which Solanke struck a second-half equaliser to cancel out Ladapo’s double as Bournemouth stormed back from 2-1 down to salvage an away point.
Stanislas’s penalty had given The Cherries the lead, but Ladapo’s 37th and 50th minute sizzlers gave Rotherham leverage, until Solanke netted the equaliser in the 63rd-minute and keep his side second in the Championship, one point behind leaders Norwich City.
Despite dropping two points, Rotherham move up to 13 points and remain three above the relegation zone, much thanks to Ladapo, who had, incidentally, been a doubt for the fixture after sustaining a hip injury.
The emergent youngster, though, had to be risked from the start to the give The Millers some strong hope of holding their own at home, and he paid off the coach, Paul Warne’s faith in him by netting his brace in style.
Ladapo built on his recent performance against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, as he first met a Joe Mattock cross from the left to slot home past Begovic from six yards, and could have had another soon afterwards when he was played in by fellow-Nigerian-born pal, Michael Ihiekwe, only for Adam Smith to deny the forward.
Ladapo’s second was a beauty, as he demonstrated his prowess with his left foot to clip the ball over Begovic from a narrow angle, but Solanke had the last laugh, as the former Chelsea and Liverpool rookie headed home beyond Blackman to ensure the spoils were shared.
Solanke could have had a second during the latter stages and probably should have secured the victory when he was played in by Stanislas and found himself one on one with the keeper, after which Blackman again beat him to a through-ball as their personal battle continued and Philip Billing smashed over from the edge of the box as the visitors cranked up some late pressure.
Solanke and Ladapo hogged all commentaries as the game dragged to a climax, but there was no game time for injured Chiedozie Ogbene, with the winger still battling to make a full recovery, while Ihiekwe and Matthew Olosunde featured for the hosts.
Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-0 in the U18 Premier League on Saturday afternoon with two players of Nigerian descent involved in eighty percent of the goals scored by Carlos Vicens’ side at the City Football Academy.
Tai Sodje, nephew of Sam and Efe Sodje, had started the season in blistering fashion until he fired blanks in his last three games prior to the match against the Black Cats, but he ended the drought in style by netting a brace and providing an assist.
The 17-year-old sent Manchester City in at the break in the driving seat when he converted a spot kick and seven minutes into the second half he turned from scorer to provider, setting up the second goal netted by Micah Hamilton.
Thirteen minutes from time, Sodje tapped in at the back post for his second and City’s third goal, taking his tally for the season to eight league goals in the process.
On as a substitute in the 70th minute, Adedire Mebude scored his first ever goal for Manchester City U18s after coming off the bench, as he wrapped up the scoring when he smashed home from close range in the 84th minute.
In the English Premier League on Saturday, Alex Iwobi was in action for Everton, but he could not save The Toffees from losing 1-0 to visiting Leeds United at Goodison Park, where the Super Eagles’ dazzler, who had been in superb form as a right-wing-back in his side’s 3-2 win at Fulham the previous weekend, was replaced by Andre Gomes in the 67th minute.
