Rangers shoot back to the top
Rangers striker Ede clatters into Sunshine goalie Ayodele Wednesday
Ideye sinks Feyenoord
Enugu Rangers have shot back to the top of the Nigeria Premier League
after a massive 3-0 home win over Sunshine Stars on Wednesday.
Rangers thus regained leadership of the league on account of a better goals difference than Kano Pillars as both teams are tied on 61 points from 36 matches.
The Enugu club have scored 47 goals, same as Pillars, but have conceded 24 goals as against 25 let in by their closest rivals.
Lobi Stars now drop to third place on 60 points with two rounds of matches to be played.
Rangers assistant coach Monday Odigie told MTNFootball.com that his team will now go all the way to be crowned champions.
“The league will go to the wire but in the end we will prove that though Pillars are good, Rangers are better,” Odigie said.
“Our match at Lobi could go either way, but we will go to Katsina-Ala with very hopes.
“The fans should continue to come out to support us in our quest to be champions again.”
A 16,000-strong crowd at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu did not have wait long before the home team took the lead after just seven minutes through Chinedu Sunday.
Midfielder Sunday fired a rocket of a shot from inside the box which gave Sunshine goalkeeper Henry Ayodele no chance.
Ifeanyi Ede doubled Rangers lead a minute into the second half as the fans started chanting “Holy! Holy!! Enugu Rangers, another champion!!!”
Oduokpe Oghogho, who was outstanding for the hosts, threaded the pass from which Ede fired home.
Chikeluba Ofoedu scored from the penalty spot on 80 minutes after he was fouled inside the box by Sunshine defender Soga Sambo.
Skipper James Okwuosa started for Rangers after his suspension for going AWOL was quashed, but it was defensive midfielder Emeka Eze, fresh from injury, who led out ‘The Flying Antelopes’ in this decisive game.
The record crowd appeared to have galvanised the home team against a Sunshine Stars, who looked tired possibly on account of their demanding CAF Champions League campaign.
The fans would throw a big victory party soon after the referee, Agba Samuel, blasted his final whistle to signal the end of this rescheduled clash.
The other game of the day between Kaduna United and Heartland was not played because of the fracas in Okene, which prevented the Owerri lads from travelling to Kaduna, the venue of the game.
Rangers thus regained leadership of the league on account of a better goals difference than Kano Pillars as both teams are tied on 61 points from 36 matches.
The Enugu club have scored 47 goals, same as Pillars, but have conceded 24 goals as against 25 let in by their closest rivals.
Lobi Stars now drop to third place on 60 points with two rounds of matches to be played.
Rangers assistant coach Monday Odigie told MTNFootball.com that his team will now go all the way to be crowned champions.
“The league will go to the wire but in the end we will prove that though Pillars are good, Rangers are better,” Odigie said.
“Our match at Lobi could go either way, but we will go to Katsina-Ala with very hopes.
“The fans should continue to come out to support us in our quest to be champions again.”
A 16,000-strong crowd at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu did not have wait long before the home team took the lead after just seven minutes through Chinedu Sunday.
Midfielder Sunday fired a rocket of a shot from inside the box which gave Sunshine goalkeeper Henry Ayodele no chance.
Ifeanyi Ede doubled Rangers lead a minute into the second half as the fans started chanting “Holy! Holy!! Enugu Rangers, another champion!!!”
Oduokpe Oghogho, who was outstanding for the hosts, threaded the pass from which Ede fired home.
Chikeluba Ofoedu scored from the penalty spot on 80 minutes after he was fouled inside the box by Sunshine defender Soga Sambo.
Skipper James Okwuosa started for Rangers after his suspension for going AWOL was quashed, but it was defensive midfielder Emeka Eze, fresh from injury, who led out ‘The Flying Antelopes’ in this decisive game.
The record crowd appeared to have galvanised the home team against a Sunshine Stars, who looked tired possibly on account of their demanding CAF Champions League campaign.
The fans would throw a big victory party soon after the referee, Agba Samuel, blasted his final whistle to signal the end of this rescheduled clash.
The other game of the day between Kaduna United and Heartland was not played because of the fracas in Okene, which prevented the Owerri lads from travelling to Kaduna, the venue of the game.
am Just so delighted with the outcome of this match. With proper officiating at Katsina-Ala Rangers can go all the way and claim this title. They have been the most consistent of sides. With issues concerning players resolved, they can now move on and be focused .
{message}