Despite having a man sent off in the 65th minute, Rangers International F.C defended well to earn a well deserved 1-0 victory over visitors Katsina United in a matchday 14, NPFL encounter played Sunday at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Rangers boss Olugbenga Ogunbote gave starting lineup opportunity to west coast imports, Seka Pascal and Roland Koffi with usual suspects, Ifeanyi George and Chiamaka Madu making their way back to the starting block and the quartet were a handful for the Abdullahi Biffo wards.
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A defence-splitting pass from Ivorian import, Koffi freed Ifeanyi George on goal but his effort was beaten out by Super Eagles goalie, Ikechukwu Ezenwa but only as far as the feet of onrushing Seka Pascal to calmly blast home on 17 minutes to the celebration of the half full ‘Cathedral’.
The lack of goals at the game was not due to lack of trying but for some splendid goalkeeping from Ezenwa who produced a master act on two minutes to stop an Aguda Godwin fierce shot from over twenty-five meters while some misses were recorded.
After the half-hour mark, the visitors saw two efforts by Martins Usule and Tasiu Lawal on 32 and 36 minutes well saved by Ghanaian shot-stopper, Nana Bonsu, who was in goal for Rangers while Ezenwa was alert to make a save on 34 minutes off a Koffi Roland’ effort.
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Efforts at scoring more goals by both sides proved abortive as the host had to defend so hard to contain the visitors in the last 25 minutes of the game after Roland Koffi was sent off by the referee, Joseph Ogabor, for a second booking.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
