NPFL: Rangers, MFM ends in stalemate 

Rangers have lost more footing in their quest to close up the gap on the league frontrunners after they were held for the second straight game at home by MFM on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in a NPFL Matchday 13 rescheduled match.

The Flying Antelopes made amends for the home draw with Kwara United, claiming an away draw at FC Ifeanyiubah in Nnewi last weekend and they were expected to pick the maximum points against the Olukoya Boys who have been poor travellers since the league season began.

Rangers dominated the early part of the game but poor marksmanship and impatience caused them scoring opportunities and they were made to rue their lack of cutting edge as the Olukoya Boys held on stoutly to record their first away point of the season.

Gbenga Ogunbote made three changes to the team that started against FC Ifeanyiubah with two players: Okey Odita and Tope Olusesi forced to sit out due to card accumulations and they were replaced by Semiu Liadi and Chidera Eze respectively while Ifeanyi George was preferred ahead of Ajani Ibrahim who was on the bench.

MFM head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu effected two changes to his previous starting 11. Peter Ubakanma dropped entirely from the fixture and was replaced by Adebayo Waheed while Jonathan Zikiye beefed up the team’s defence.

Besides few isolated cases including when MFM had the ball at the back of the net in the 12th minute through Sikiru Olatunbosun but was flagged offside, Rangers had most of the ball possession and should. have been at least two goals up before halftime but they were uncoordinated in the attack and they failed to trouble Abayomi Folarin who only had to come to the rescue of his team on few occasions.

The Flying Antelopes were presented with goal scoring opportunities in the 20th and 22nd minutes through Solomon Okpako from a free kick and Ugonna Anyora who elected to pass to badly positioned Godwin Aguda when he could have buried the chance on his own.

The Olukoya Boys had a penalty appeal turned down by the centre referee when in the 36th minute Pape Ousmane Sane kicked a goal-bound Udeh Zinte in the 18-yard box while Olatunbosun was close to getting the curtain raiser in the 44th minute but his effort hit the frame of the goal post and went out of touch after a good pass from Waheed Adebayo.

Chances were few and hard to find in the second half with Rangers players anxious to score and the hosts could have been punished at the death when Olatunbosun was goalbound but the referee ruled it offside and subsequently ended the tie.

Rangers are ninth in the league table with 25 points from 18 games while MFM are a step lower in 10th spot with 24 points from 16 matches.