#NPFL: Rangers International Beat Visiting Lobi Star 5-3 At Awka—Rangers International FC of Enugu on Saturday defeated visiting Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi 5-3 in Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 19.
At the match played at Rangers FC newly adopted home at Awka, Anambra, Ossy Martins opened scoring for Rangers from penalty spot in the 11th minute.
Martins scored two more goals in the 22nd and 45th minute to complete his hat-trick to ensure Rangers went into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Two minutes into the second half, Rangers made it 4-0 through Chidiebere Nwobodo, who scored in the 47th minute of play.
Meanwhile, Raphael Ayogwa reduced the tally for Lobi Stars in the 57th minute and Mohammed Rabiu made it 4-2 for the visitors.
Kelechukwu Agu increased the tally to 5-2 for the home team before, Douglas Achiv reduced the scoreline to 5-3 but the home team stood its ground and won the game.
Speaking after the match, Rangers Coach Abdul Maikaba, said their victory was not a surprise as he had expected win and the scoreline, but expressed disappointment that his team conceded three goals in the match.
“Actually, I expected the scoreline but did not expect my team to let in three goals in the match.
“All the same, we will go back to the drawing board and work on some areas we faulted in this game to avoid conceding unnecessary goals.
“Now that we are trying to be more offensive, we have to do that with good balance of good defense and midfield.
“I am happy that we scored five goals in the league for the first time but worried on the goals we conceded. I know it will be difficult to strike a balance,” Maikaba said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers FC retained third position on the league table with 34 points as the result put Lobi Stars FC into 19 position with 19 points
