Nasarawa 2 Rangers 1: Late calls decide the Lafia clash
Former league champions, Enugu Rangers International F.C, Monday, at Lafia City stadium, in a match Day 5 encounter of 2017/2018 NPFL fixture lost all three points at stake as host’ Nasarawa United ran away with a 2-1 victory.
The host started the game on a high and were rewarded on 9th minute when some hesitant defending from Rangers backline gave Abubakar Abdullahi enough time to slam home the opening goal to send fans of the home side into wild jubilations.
Stunned as they were, the visitor’s. took the game to the host with Kelvin Itoya, Godwin Aguda and Abu Azeez probing for the much needed leveller but Suraj Ayeleso, in goal for the host, was in fine form as he blocked, parried and clutched all that was thrown at him.
On 16, 26 and 37 minutes of play, the experienced shot stopper blocked out Abu Azeez stinging shot while also parrying out Godwin Aguda’ half volley and standing his ground to deny Azeez another sniff at goal to the relief of the half full stadium.
The seven time league champions continued from where it stopped as the second half resumed with the introduction of Richard Jonathan for Ugonna Anyora and his combination with Aguda and Silas was great.
Yusuf Ibrahim’ introduction for Abu Azeez further gave the visitors more opportunities and in one of their forays upfront, captain of the side, Okechukwu Odita, reacted the quickest to nod past a badly positioned, Ayeleso, for the equalizer just few minutes after denying Itoya in a one-on-one situation and the few travelling fans went on frenzy.
Coach Ogunbote’ men created more opportunities to wrap up the encounter but poor finishing and some questionable calls from the arbiter combined to rob the visitors more goals and with three minutes into the five of add-on time, the referee awarded a penalty kick to the host which was expertly dispatched by Seun Sogbeso and from the re-start, Rangers got a corner kick which was swung in by Godwin Aguda and misses by the defenders of the host saw the ball fall to Okey Odita who reacted well to find the net for what would have the second equalizer but was ruled out by the referee.
