Rangers beat FC IfeanyiUbah to top NPL table

Enugu Rangers on Saturday bounced back into reckoning as they defeated hard-fighting FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 Saturday in Enugu to return to the top of the Nigeria Premier League.

The damage was done just four minutes into the game and it was a fortuitous one. The visitors gave away the ball at the edge of their area and Chisom Egbuchulam pounced. Driving into the area, he shrugged off the challenge of a defender, beating Uche Okafor in the FC Ifeanyiubah goal to put Rangers ahead. It was his sixth strike of the campaign, making him top joint scorer in the league this season with Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars.

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FC Ifeanyiubah sought an immediate response. Paschal Seka saw his header from Bright Onyedikachi’s free kick miss target and when Ngoma Luamba attempted same technique minutes later, it yielded a similar response. Kofi Nti should have done better when slipped through by Onyedikachi but he failed to make the vital touch, the ball trickling wide. Seka and Elu Wilson both had chances soon after but they failed to beat national Under-23 goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel.

Egbuchulam had a couple of chances to double his tally just before the interval but his finishing was poor. The visitors kept up the tempo after the restart and Luamba felt he had got the leveller when his strike looked headed in but Nnamdi Anyasodo cleared off the line. Then Onyedikachi had a pop minutes later but again Daniel made a fine save.

Rangers now have 21 points, two more than IfeanyiUbah, who drop to second place.

It was a sweet revenge for ‘The Flying Antelopes’, who last season lost 3-2 to the Nnewi club in front of their home fans.

 

 

 

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