It was an inspiring display from the men of coach Salisu Yusuf as the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C found their range to disunite bottom of the table, Adamawa United F.C of Yola, 2-0 with a goal in each half of the match day 22, NPFL 2019/2020 fixture.
The result would have been more embarrassing for the visitors but for the brilliance of captain and goalkeeper, Pwadadi Bulus, who did well to stop over four goal bound efforts by the front men of the home side.
Coach Yusuf kept faith with a large chunk of the match day squad that he used to prosecute the rescheduled match day 14 tie in Lafia as three players, Nana Bonsu, Tope Olusesi and Uche John found their way back to the starting team and the lot did not disappoint.
After early exchanges that restricted actions to the middle of the pack, the host carved out the first real threat at goal when Israel Abia was set up by impressive, Ibrahim Olawoyin on 16 minutes but his effort was blocked out for a harmless corner kick.
The next seven minutes saw Rangers waste two precious opportunities as Ifeanyi George watched in awe as Pwadadi reacted well to parry away his goal bound shot on 18 minutes while Abia could not believe how his 23 minute left footed shot missed target.
With the first stanza looking likely to end barren, Olawoyin attracted some rash tackles from Dumama Ishaku and Idris Abubakar on the edge of the box as the referee called for a freekick and Nigerian born Benin international, Isaac Loute, who had tested the goalkeeper twice without success, made no mistake this time, as he curled the ball past the defensive wall into the top corner for the opening goal on the stroke of half time.
On 57 minutes, Israel Abia, steeled his nerve to dispatch from the spot for his tenth goal of the season, after substitute, Chinonso Eziekwe, was upended by Abubakar Jibrin as he turned to burry a chance.
Christian Madu also asked some questions of the shot stopper from Yola on 64 minutes as his stinging shot from over twenty-five meters that was going in but Pwadadi produced another acrobatic save to tip the ball over the bar just as his slight finger tip prevented a Chinonso Eziekwe’ half volley from nestling in the net on 84 minutes as the ball crashed on the cross bar and bounced back onto play.
On 86 minutes, Kenechukwu Agu saw his well struck effort greased the cross bar and over the bar as Enegbe Eka was the leading light for the visitors going forward but Uche John and Anthony Franklin did well in the heart of Rangers defense.
Coach Ibrahim Bariki of Adamawa United said after the match, “It was a good game as wehad a very good first half but a moment of loss of concentration gave us away. We lost to a very experienced side and we go back to work on our lapses as we continue to fight for our survival.”
Rangers’ assistant coach, Mbwas Mangut said, “It was good victory that we needed at this very moment. We shall continue to work hard on the team to get more victories both home and away. Sure, we created very many chances to harvest high number of goals but we missed most chances created. We have to work on this going forward.”
RANGERS TEAM: Nana Bonsu, Tope Olusesi, Isaac Loute, Tony Shimaga, Uche John, Anthony Franklin, Ibrahim Olawoyin, Ifeanyi George (Chinonso Eziekwe – 42nd Min.), Ugochukwu Ugwuoke (Kenechukwu Agu -66th Min.), Israel Abia (Nnamdi Egbujuo -75th Min.), Christian Madu. SUBS NOT USED: Japhet Opubo, Osas Okoro, Isiaka Oladuntoye, Chiamaka Madu.
GOALS: Isaac Loute – 45th minute, Israel Abia -57th minute.
REFEREE: Oluwabonmi Olayombo – Ondo.
