Rangers beat Lobi Stars to put life back into NPFL title defence

By Daily Sports on February 23, 2017

Nigerian champions Enugu Rangers left it very late on Wednesday to see off Lobi Stars 2-1 in a rearranged NPFL fixture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions had Bobby Clement to thank for the winner on the stroke of full time.

After their weekend activity in the Caf Champions League in which they scraped past Algerian side JS Saoura to reach the next round, the Flying Antelopes were less than convincing once again.

There were no starting places for Godwin Aguda and Fortune Omoniwari in the Rangers line-up while Lobi coach Evans Ogenyi listed forwards Kingsley Eduwo and Anthony Okpotu.

Daniel Etor made amends for an earlier miss when he benefited from a defensive error to score for Rangers 21 minutes into the contest.

Fifteen minutes later Etor turned from hero to villain when he upended Okpotu in his box, leaving referee Olayombo Oluwabonmi with the simplest task of awarding a spot kick.

Eduwo's kick from 11 metres was saved by Rangers goalkeeper Nana Bonsu but the Lobi striker volleyed in the rebound before defenders of the champions could make any attempt to clear the ball.

That was the much the first half produced at a ground Rangers faithful now call The Cathedral.

The restart had Rangers pouring forward in search of a goal just to ease their worry of remaining in the bottom-four. The Flying Antelopes just could not conjure anything.

Ten minutes to time, Lobi's Chinedu James got his marching orders for a second booking, thereby handing Rangers the numerical advantage.

Right at the death, Clement popped up with the winner with a fine headed goal off an Osas Okoro assist.

Rangers have taken their points to nine after seven matches and that lifts them from bottom spot to 16th position.

Former champions Kano Pillars ended their poor away form by scoring their first goal on the road in 467 minutes in the NPFL. Amos Gyang earned Pillars a 1-1 draw at Rivers United after Godbless Asamoah had given the Port Harcourt club the lead in the first half.

Pillars finished the last five minutes of the game with 10 men after Chris Madaki was sent off for a second yellow card.

Wikki Tourists needed an Nnaemeka Anyanwu screamer on 70 minutes to put away 3SC and earn the full points with a 1-0 win.

A stoppage time goal in the first half by Destiny Ashadi made sure Katsina United edged Federation Cup champions FC Ifeanyiubah 1-0 at the Mohammed Dikko Stadium in Katsina. The win lifts Katsina United to sixth place with 13 points, seven behind table-toppers Plateau United. (© supersport.com)

•Photo shows Rangers players celebrating goal.

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 23, 2017


 

You may also like...
U-20 W’Çup: F’Eagles struggle to beat Dominican Rep...

Defending Champion Nadal Decides Not To Play At...

Hazard Apologises To Madrid Fans

Alhassan Yusuf’s Wonderstrike Propels Royal Antwerp Past Gent...

Toothless Liverpool lose in Naples

Haaland Rejects Man U Transfer

 

Latest News Open Letter to CAF: Laser Attacks on Nigerian Players by Moroccan Fans Triumphant Super Falcons arrive Nigeria today England beat Spain on penalties to win Women’s Euro 2025 Al-Nassr agree £43.7m deal for Chelsea forward Felix Bayern agree deal worth £65.5m with Liverpool for Diaz King Mohammed VI Commends Atlas Lionesses for Historic WAFCON 2024 Performance HRH Eze Christian Nwokedi Preaches Patriotism and Leadership Qualities To Reset Nigeria * As he Tumps up Super Falcon's resilience. Lagos SWAN Appoints SWANECO As Buildup To Election Begins Esther Okoronkwo: Canadian club hails Super Falcons star who stepped up when it mattered in WAFCON final Super Falcons Over Ran Morocco In Grudge Comeback Game Confirming Mission X Isak situation has to be right for Newcastle - Howe Hojlund's fight to answer Man Utd's striker question

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,599 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,769 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,770 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,363 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,361 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,347 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,162 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,712 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,810 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,428 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,862 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,292 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media