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Table-topping Rangers International F.C the ‘Flying Antelopes’ maintained their stay at the top spot of the twenty-team NPFL 2023/2024 log despite being denied any point from their match day 36 fixture against old foes, 3SC of Ibadan inside the Lekan Salami Sports Complex after a 1-0 loss.
Christian Pyagbara was the hero for the host as he jumped the highest to head home an Ayobami Abiodun’ corner-kick 13 minutes after he was left unmarked in the game of two halves seen by a capacity crowd in Ibadan on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu rested six of his regular starters in this encounter handing starts to the likes of Ogba Ifeanyi, Auwalu Naziru, Agu Kenechukwu, and others but it was not the start that the coach envisaged as the home side became more dominant in the early part of the encounter resulting in the only goal of the encounter which sent the home side’ supporters into wild jubilations.
Tried as much as they could, the host stood strong at the back while creating openings in the ‘Flying Antelopes’ rear with Austin Opara, David Chimezie, Philip Clement, and Ikenna Stephen holding fort to push them back.
At the start of the second stanza, the Rangers gaffer made three substitutions that saw the introduction of Isaac Saviour, Kazeem Ogunleye, and Chiedozie Okorie and it was an immediate impact with Saviour and Okrie running rings around the backline of the host which resulted in a penalty shout on 63 minutes that was waved off by the referee when Nwobodo was brought down inside the box while the defense was alert to clear their line on 77 minutes when Nwobodo benefited from a slip by the host’ goalkeeper to direct his headed effort at goal but was nodded out by a defender.
After the encounter, rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu said, “It was a good game against a great side under a quality coach. It was not the result that we wanted but we are going back to work on the weak areas ahead of our next match. We had a better second stanza due largely to the introduction of some of our key players who needed to be rested. We are still building our team and hope to get it right soon.”
With the result, Rangers remains in the prime position of the league log with 64 points from 36 matches and will next trade tackles with Bendel Insurance F.C. on Sunday, June 16, 2024, inside Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
NORBERT OKOLIE