By Goodness Ndukuba, Awka on December 11, 2023

Rangers International F.C of Enugu, Sunday, surrendered all three points at stake to hosts, Bayelsa United F.C of Yenagoa in a match day 13, NPFL 2023/2024 encounter played at the Samson Yebowei Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.

A goal in either half condemned the Enugu side to it fifth loss of the season.

Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made just two changes to the starting squad that narrowly lost to Plateau United, mid-week in Jos with ‘Home-Boy’, Japhet Opubo standing between the sticks as Detan Ogundare featured as a reserve while Godwin Obaje took the place of Okorie Chiedozie in attack and all went smoothly in the early part of the match as Rangers enjoyed dominance.

Goalkeeper, Oladimeji Oluwaseun was the reason the home side failed to concede in the first thirty minutes of the duel as he produced a superlative save on 18 minutes to deny Nwaodu Chukwudi’ shot that was heading for top roof corner.

Oluwaseun also reacted well to stop Kazeem Ogunleye’ effort on 23 minutes just as Opubo Japhet also did well to stop Lawal Kahinde’ shot from nestling in the net on 35 minutes.

With few minutes to go in the first half, Lawal Kehinde reacted the quickest inside the box to tab home the game’s opening goal after Opubo had yet again produced a big save to stop Robert Mizo’s free kick on 43 minutes but his defenders were caught napping as the home fans went into frenzy.

Ekeson Okorie who had been a torn in the flesh of the visitor’s backline capped his performance with a goal on 74 minutes after another mix-up in the visitor’s backline gave him enough room to run clear and dispatched the second goal of the day for his side that had earlier lost two home games in the season.

All efforts to fight back by the visitors did not yield much dividend as the home side ran away with the victory as their fans sang and danced into the night in celebrations.

Coach Fideliz Ilechukwu, in a post-match chat said, “It was a good game that we have lost and Bayelsa won. Congratulations to them. I think we are in a challenging time in our club. 

"Three games without a win is so painful but we are not going to throw the players away but encourage them so that they can come back to what we used to know them for. 

"We need to also sought ourselves out before our next game.”

Rangers will next play Sporting Lagos in a match day 14 fixture and currently occupies the 12 spot on the twenty team log with fifteen points from twelve matches played.

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted December 11, 2023

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