Rangers 2 Lobi 1: Clement late goal earns champions maximum points
Bobby Clement’s late header earned Rangers International the maximum points against visiting Lobi Stars of Makurdi in a rescheduled NPFL Matchday 7 fixture played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Wednesday
Rangers who went into the tie full of confidence after securing their place in the next round of CAF Champions League took the lead in the 21st minute through Daniel Etor. The former Enyimba man capitalized on a Sunday Alimi poor pass to put the ball beyond Okiemute Odah reach for the opener.
Rangers almost doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark, when Osas Okoro’s free kick, 30 yards out rattled Okiemute, who recovered quickly to punch to safety.
Six minutes later, Daniel Etor hacked down Tony Okpotu inside the box, to hand the visitors an opportunity for an equalizer. Nana Bonsu got a hand to Kingsley Eduwo’s penalty, but his defenders let him down, as the striker would rush to tap in the rebound to bring Lobi back on level terms.
The visitors should have ended the first half in front, but Tony Okpotu poorly hit the ball into the waiting hands of Nana Bonsu, from a one-on-one situation, after he was sent clear by Eduwo.
Both sides had their goalkeepers down, ten minutes into the second half, but Okiemute returned for the visitors. In the opposite direction, Nana Bonsu was replaced by Akor Itodo, following his inability to recover from a suspected knee problem.
Okiemute further prevented the hosts from dictating the pace of the game yet again, when he denied Osas Okoro and Obinna Nwobodo in the 65th and 70th minute respectively.
Lobi completed the final ten minutes of the fixture with a man down after Chinedu James was sent off for a second bookable offense.
But the champions would wait till the stroke of full time for the winner when Bobby Clement rose highest to head home Osas Okoro’s cross.
The win lifts Rangers above the relegation zone, with two games outstanding, while Lobi dropped to 7th, following Katsina United’s 1-0 win at home to FC Ifeanyiubah. Imama’s men are away to MFM FC on Friday night.
