Two of Nigeria’s export to the Premier League, Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu were both on target as relegation bound Southampton beat Ipswich Town 2-1 on Saturday.
The bottom-of-the-table clash was heading into a draw after Ipswich’s Liam Delap scored his ninth goal of the season after 31 minutes to cancel out Joe Aribo’s opener at Portman Road.
But, Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu recorded a 87th-minute winner against fellow strugglers in the Premier League.
Onuachu fired in after Arijanet Muric spilled Kamaldeen Sulemana’s low effort to secure Saints’ winner.
Both teams have been confined to the relegation zone at 19th and 20th position in the English Premier League respectively.
With plenty at stake chances were limited until Southampton broke the deadlock in the 21st minute.
Kyle Walker-Peters and Mateus Fernandes combined down the right before the latter’s cross deflected into the path of Aribo, who volleyed home for his third goal of the campaign from 12 yards.
Ipswich goalkeeper Muric made a weak attempt at saving Aribo’s tame effort, but referee Michael Oliver was in the spotlight soon after.
Oliver, who was moved onto this fixture and off Arsenal versus Manchester City on Sunday after he received death threats over a red card given to the Gunners’ Myles Lewis-Skelly last weekend, faced more hostility after he first opted not to give Ipswich a free-kick in a dangerous position.
More boos followed when Oliver decided Walker-Peters’ handball inside the Saints penalty area had been from a natural position, but the home faithful had a goal to celebrate soon after.
Not long after Delap had flicked over from close range, the former Manchester City forward showed his class with an assured 31st-minute finish.
Ipswich received a touch of fortune after Nathan Broadhead’s pass ricocheted off Aribo and into Delap, who burst past Jan Bednarek too easily and slotted under Aaron Ramsdale.
It was nearly 2-1 two minutes later when a gorgeous outside of the boot through ball by Delap sent Broadhead away, but Ramsdale stood up well to block.
There were further efforts by Julio Enciso, Omari Hutchinson and Broadhead before the break as Southampton held on until half-time.
Ivan Juric made a change during the interval with Saints captain Jack Stephens introduced for his comeback after eight weeks out, but he limped off after 11 minutes.
Enciso sliced off soon after before James Bree had a shot deflected wide for the visitors as it turned into a scrappy affair.
Delap muscled his way past Bednarek but had a low shot blocked by Ramsdale before Leif Davis sent a free-kick into the wall.
Juric reacted with Sulemana sent on with 20 minutes left and the substitute helped Saints claim a first league win in four months when his low effort was spilled by Muric, which allowed Onuachu to smash home.
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