Ben Ezechime, Enugu
A sublime free kick from about 25 meters taken by substitute, Agu Kenechukwu, which found its way past a stranded Bankole Kayode to rest in the net on the 56th minute, and turned out to be the match-winner, was all that the Enugu Rangers International Football Club needed against Remo Stars in a match day 22, NPFL 2023/2024 fixture.
The encounter which took place inside the main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, saw Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu keeping faith with the starting squad that defeated Doma United in Gombe over the weekend.
Still, a well-knitted defense line deployed by coach Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars ensured that the game failed to record a goal in the first stanza.
There were several chances for the flying antelopes but the trio of Kazeem Ogunleye, Godwin Obaje, and Chidiebere Nwobodo were wasteful in front of goal.
The backline of the visitors led by Junior Nduka and Fabian Nworie gave a good cover to their goalkeeper and when it was breached, goal keeper Kayode Bankole was always alert to produce the needed save.
Ilechukwu made two early substitutions in the second stanza which saw Agu Kenechukwu and Odoh Joel take the places of Zulkifilu Rabiu and Ugwueze Chinemerem.
The visitors were pushed back into their defensive shells as the home side pushed for the much expected opening goal.
In one of his mazy runs, dribbling past over three tackling legs, Chidiebere Nwobodo was fouled a few meters before the 18 yeard box and the referee made the call that saw Agu Kenechukwu swing the ball past the wall of defense and into a yawning net to send the appreciative Rangers fans into wild celebrations.
Kayode Bankole had to bring out his best between the sticks to punch out another Kenechukwu Agu corner kick that was headed for the far corner at 66 minutes and another brave block to prevent Kenechukwu Agu’s free kick at 67 minutes just as Odoh Joel arrived a split second late to connect home Chidiebere Nwobodo’s inch-perfect cross on 69 minutes.
There was an opportunity for the visitors on 74 minutes but Opubo Japhet in goal for Rangers made himself big to snuff out that opportunity as the crowd heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu in his post-match chat said, “It was a great match we had today, and deservedly we emerged the winner against a quality side like Remo Stars.
“They gave us a good fight but we knew what we wanted and went for it even when our first half had not much to be desired.
“Our substitutions did the magic for us just as the entire team fought a good fight for the maximum points.
“We keep working on our remaining matches with high optimism that we shall be rewarded at the end of the season.”
With the victory, Rangers now move up to third position in the twenty-team log to place with 37 points from 22 matches pending the results of matches slated for Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Enugu Rangers will at the weekend, trade tackles with Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna in a match day 23 fixture.
