By Timothy Nwobodo

Rangers International Football Club of Enugu played their first home game of 2024 at the Cathedral on the matchday 18 fixture of the Nigerian Premier Football League on Saturday, capping it off with a 4:1 win against the Savanah Scorpions of Gombe.

The Flying Antelopes of Enugu started the match in a promising manner, launching several attacks in order to offer retribution for their 2:0 loss at the previous fixture away against Bendel Insurance but was met with a shocker as the Savanah Scorpions took an early lead in the 19th minute through the goalkeeper’s spillage of a low cross across the face of the goal, leaving Wasiu Alalade with an open net to pass the ball into.

However, the resilience of the Enugu Rangers paid off as they pulled the goal back within 30 seconds of going behind as Godwin Obaje beat the offside trap to find himself in a one-on – one situation with the goalkeeper which he passed to the bottom left corner leaving the goalkeeper in no man’s land. Shortly after that, the Flying Antelopes took the lead at the 38th minute as Godwin Obaje riffled a penalty kick in arising from a foul inside the box. This saw the host go in with a half time lead.

Entering the second half, the visitors took control of the game and came very close to equalizing as a well-hit free kick within 20 yards came off the post, before the hosts reclaimed their authority in the game as Nwodu Chukwudi received the ball inside the box and passed it to the bottom right corner after shrugging off the defender, making it 3:1 for the Flying Antelopes.

The last goal came from a well-hit free kick from Kenechukwu Agu within 20 yards, with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot, leaving the spectators in awe.

Rangers currently occupy the 9th position on the table with 25 points in 17 games and will travel to Ákwá Ibom for their Match-day 19 fixture against Ákwá United.