BY NORBERT OKOLIE Media/Communication Officer Rangers International F.C, Enugu
After Monday’ goalless draw in Uyo in a matchday 22 NPFL 2020/21 fixture, Rangers International F.C, Thursday, inside the main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, smashed three goals past visiting Jigawa Golden Stars in a matchday 23 fixture to earn a double over the coach Gilbert Opana led side.
The visitors were the quicker off the block and would have been up as early as the second minute but Stone Samuel’ goal-bound effort got blocked out by his teammate, Ali Kala which sounded a warning bell for the coach Salisu Yusuf tutored side that had only two players missing from the starting team in Uyo.
Dribbling wiz kid, Ibrahim Olawoyin has gifted an opportunity to score on 10 minutes by the visitor’s backline but he took much time on the ball just as Shedrack Asiegbu saw three of his efforts on goal fail to find the net on 13, 16, and 20 minutes.
On 29 minutes, Christian Nnaji rose above his markers to nod past a stranded Sochima Victor a well-drilled inviting cross from Tope Olusesi who had done a quick restart with Olawoyin from the corner flag.
More chances to extend the lead for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ but quality goalkeeping from substitute, Godwin Paul and some misses ensured that the first half recorded just a goal.
On resumption of the second stanza, with the heavens opening up, coach Salisu introduced the duo of Godspower Aniefiok and Ugochukwu Ugwuoke for Asiegbu Shedrack and Chidiebere Nwobodo and it was an instant hit for Aniefiok as he stole behind the visitor’s backline to connect home another Tope Olusesi cross from a dead ball situation just three minutes after the re-start.
Ibrahim Olawoyin made up for his earlier miss as he ran onto a defense splitting pass from Ugwuoke Ugochukwu on 57 minutes to stroke home through the legs of Godwin Paul for the third goal of the encounter.
Opportunities came for Ugwuoke, Aniefiok, and Elijah Ani to have their names on the scorer’s sheet but Godwin Paul stood his ground not to allow more goals in with some good saves.
Coach Salisu said after the encounter, “It was a good match that would have seen more goals but we thank God for the number we were able to convert. Jigawa gave us a good fight but we know what we wanted and went for it.”
Captain of the side, who assisted in two goals in the match, Tope Olusesi, said, “It was a good outing today and I saw the determination in the faces of my teammates. We were hungry to win and we believe we are supposed to be at the top of the table. I believe with more positive results from subsequent matches, our target for the season will be achieved.”
Ghanaian shot-stopper, Seidu Mutawakilu, who has kept four clean sheets from the seven matches he had played, said, “The first half was not easy but thank God that we pick ourselves up in the second half and won with a 3-0 scoreline and we pray to keep this kind of performance in all our games and by the grace of God, Rangers will go as far as winning the league this season.”
RANGERS TEAM: Seidu Mutawakilu, Tope Olusesi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Tony Shimaga, Ebuka Anthony, Ernest Governor, Chidiebere Nwobodo (Ugochukwu Ugwuoke -46th Min.), Chiamaka Madu (Dauda Madaki -73rd Min.), Shedrack Asiegbu (Godspower Aniefiok -46th Min.), Ibrahim Olawoyin (Daniel Vendaga -63rd Min.), Christian Nnaji (Elijah Ani -63rd Min.) SUBS NOT USED: Nana Bonsu, Ousmane Pape, Kelvin Itoya, Charles Tiesso.
GOALS: Christian Nnaji -29th Min., Godspower Aniefiok – 48th Min., Ibrahim Olawoyin – 57th Min.
