We were unlucky against Plateau Utd FC, says Rangers Int'l FC Coach, Ilechukwu

Posted : 07 December 2023

Rangers had a superlative display in Match Day 12 of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the New Jos Stadium, Zaria Road, Jos. However, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ were denied any share of the spoil as hosts, Plateau United, ran away with a 2-1 victory.

The hosts, under former Rangers International FC Chief coach, Mbwas Mangut, took an early lead as central defender Moses Adikwu connected perfectly with his head from a long throw-in by Daniel Itodo just two minutes into the match, sending the home fans into wild jubilations.

Despite the setback, the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu-tutored side fought back gamely, with the trio of Kazeem Ogunleye, Chidiebere Nwobodo, and Isaac Savior pulling the strings but facing a closely knit defense line by the hosts, ably marshaled by former Rangers defender Olawale Doyeni.

At the quarter-hour mark, Nwobodo tapped home the much-needed equalizer for the visitors after goalkeeper Bamidele Adeniyi fumbled Kazeem Ogunleye’s stinging long-range shot.

Efforts for more goals in the first stanza from both sides failed to materialize, with Albert Hillary and Nenrot Silas coming close for the host and Chukwudi Nwaodu and Savior Isaac seeing their efforts either cleared on the line or Adeniyi making a full-length dive to push out the goal-bound shot.

In the second stanza, the visitors took complete control of proceedings with three clear-cut opportunities created. However, Chidiebere Nwobodo, Kazeem Ogunleye, Isaac Savior, and Frank Uwumiro all saw their efforts miss targets, with Savior’s miss being the most glaring as he took too much time to find his footing after dribbling past the opponent's goalkeeper, and with a yawning goal at his mercy, got caught up by the sliding feet of the returning defenders on the 68th minute.

With only one minute left of the five additional minutes indicated by the fourth official, Olawale Doyeni scored the back-breaking goal that turned out to be the winner, being left unmarked to tap home as the reserve bench and the home fans went into a frenzy to celebrate the victory.

Coach Ilechukwu, in a post-match chat, said, “The game has been won and lost. A very good game from both sides. This was a game where we proved that we are capable of getting some good results on the road, but today, it was just hard luck for us as our best player on the field missed a sitter that would have turned the complexion of the match. That is football for you, and we keep working until we get it right.”

Rangers, with 15 points from 11 matches, will next play another away encounter against Bayelsa United at the Samson Yebowei Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Sunday, December 10.

We were unlucky against Plateau Utd FC, says Rangers Int'l FC Coach, Ilechukwu

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