NPFL: Rangers Beat Heartland In Oriental Derby To Go Top

The ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C, Sunday, March 24, 2024, did a double over their eastern neighbors, Heartland F.C in the 2023/2024 NPFL season with a 2-1 win at the ‘Naze Millionaires’ adopted home ground, Aba, in a match day 27 encounter to add to the reverse fixture’ 2-0 spanking to leapfrog Lobi Stars and occupy the top position on the log.

A goal in either half of the highly entertaining encounter that was watched by an appreciable number of spectators AT THE Enyimba Stadium, Aba, saw the Enugu side take a late first-half lead as defense-general, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi jumped the highest to head home a Kalu Nweke took corner-kick on 38 minutes while Nweke slapped home 25 meters shot on 54 minutes to set the Coal City side on a winning path.

Substitute, Chukwuebuka Ogbonna, cut the deficit by a half as he reacted well to blast home on 90+4 minutes after being left unmarked by the backline of Rangers that failed to react well to a corner kick.

Coach Ilechukwu continued his rotation policy that has helped his squad go nine matches unbeaten as he handed starts to the quartet of Isaac Saviour, Zulkifilu Rabiu, Kalu Nweke, and Kazeem Ogunleye and it was pure dominance for the visitors as it was some missed opportunities that made the game go past the half-hour mark without a goal as Kazeem, Saviour, Obaje and Nweke had seen their efforts go wide off target.

The host also showed a fierce fighting spirit as the match went on, especially in the early part of the second stanza, but, tried as much as they could, they could not break down the defense line of the visitors ably led by the duo of Austin Opara and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi.

Coach Ilechukwu Fidelis in a post-match chat, said, “It was a great game between two great sides and I am very glad that we ended the game on the winning side. We worked very hard to earn this victory and I thank God for it and hopefully, we shall keep the momentum to push higher in the league.”

With the win, Rangers now occupy the prime position on the twenty teams log with 48 points from 27 matches and will next, host Sunshine Stars in a match day 28 fixture after prosecuting the final match of 2024 Enugu F.A Cup against NNL side, Coal City United at the weekend in Enugu.