Despite dominating proceedings in the match day 23, NPFL 2021/2022 fixture against visiting Sunshine Stars F.C at the Awka City Stadium, Saturday, the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C could not find a way past the defensive architecture set up by Cameroonian coach, Emmanuel Duetcsh, for the ‘Owena Whales’.
As early as the second minute the home fans had risen to celebrate a Kenechukwu Agu’ well struck free kick from the edge of the box but was disappointed when the effort greased the side net to the relief of the visitors.
On 7 minutes, it was goalkeeper, Lawal Mustapha who stretched his fullest to push out another Kenechukwu Agu’ fine effort after some neat inter change of passes between the trio of Ossy Martins, Chukwuebuka Okorie and Agu.
The catalogue of misses continued for the home side in the first half as there were missed opportunities for Ossy Martins on 35 minutes and 40 minutes when he actually put the ball into the net but his effort was chopped off by the match referee.
Coach Abdul Maikaba who rested five of the starters in the ‘Oriental Derby’ last week in Aba had to rejig his squad as the second half started with the introduction of Elijah Ani for midfielder, Charles Tiesso, and the twin strike force of Elijah and Martins helped push the visitors back into their defensive shells as the defended stoutly all that was thrown at them.
With five minutes into the second stanza, another begging chance was not connected as the front line could not react quickly to an incisive cross from Ifeanyi Nweke while Seidu Mutawakilu produced a great save on 56 minutes to deny the visitors after Rangers’ defense line was breached.
On 68 and 73 minutes Okorie and Nwobodo failed to connect home when they were free on goal just as the visitor’s perfectly applied the inglorious delay tactics to run down the clock as fans left the pitch in disappointment.
Coach Abdul Maikaba said after the encounter, “I can that this was the result that we deserve from this game as my players failed to raise their game when it mattered most. My players did not fight hard enough for us to get the three points hence, the one point we got today against a side came to fight for a draw.”
Sunshine Stars’ gaffer, Cameroonian, Emmanuel Deutcsh, said after the encounter, “It was a very good game against a very good side, Rangers. In the first round, they got a draw in our home and this result balances things out. We had to contain them by not allowing them to do what they planned to do as they have very good players in their squad.”
With the result, Rangers maintain their stay on the 3rd spot on the log with 38 points from 23 matches and will next engage Niger Tornadoes in a match day 24 fixture scheduled to happen inside Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kaduna on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.
RANGERS TEAM: Seidu Mutawakilu, Ifeanyi Nweke, Philip Clement, Tiesso Charles (Elijah Ani -46th Min.), Uche John, David Chimezie, kenechukwu Agu, Samuel Pam (Shedrack Asiegbu -60th Min.), Chukwuebuka Okorie, Ossy Martins (Christian Nnaji – 79th Min.), Chidiebere Nwobodo. SUBS NOT USED: Nana Bonsu, Bala Akintunde, Olawale Doyeni, Ejike Uzoenyi, Julius Ikechukwu.
