Hosts Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Sunday defeated Ikorodu United FC of Lagos 4-1 in a 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 17 encounter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first goal of the game played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu was an own goal.
It came through a blunder by the visiting team’s defender Francis Nnedum in the 10th minute of play.
Apparently spurred on by their opponents’ blunder, Rangers took advantage and striker Tope Olusesan scored in the 16th and 20th minutes of the game for a 3-0 lead.
The visitors reduced the tally in the 22nd minute through Moses Ebiye, while Obinna Nwobodo restored Rangers’ three-goal lead in the 86th minute.
Reacting, Rangers’ coach Imama Amapakabo expressed happiness at the decisive victory as well as the number of goals scored in the match.
“We are happy that the team showed class and played to the game plan, while the result speaks volume of the team’s performance today.
“We are going to keep up the tempo and I assure our teeming fans that we will remain at the top of the league,’’ Amapakabo said.
Ikorodu United’s Technical Adviser, Sam Okpodu, said Rangers were lucky to have utilised their chances in the game.
“We had a hard luck today, as we did not convert our chances even as the game was balanced from its statistics.
“The team will now have to go and re-strategise for our next match and ensure that perceived lapses will be corrected,’’ Okpodu said.
NAN reports that Rangers are still topping the NPFL table, with 31 points from 17 matches.