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Rangers denied maximum points by Doma United

By Our Reporter On May 7, 2023 0

The brilliance of Doma United F.C’s young shot-stopper, Kingdom Osayi between the sticks for the ‘Desert Tigers’ was the reason that the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C failed to annex the maximum points in match day 17, NPFL 2022/2023 Abridge season, Group B encounter inside Gombe Stadium, Pantami, on Sunday.

Coach Abdul Maikaba stuck to the team that did the demolition job of Wikki Tourists in a match day 16 fixture except for Godwin Obaje who was rested for Leonard Ugochukwu and the squad started the encounter on a high with Austin Onyemaechi’s effort on 3 minutes failing to rest inside the net after Innocent Gabriel had sent an inch-perfect cross.

Leonard Ugochukwu, Nwobodo Chidiebere, and Onyemaechi continued their dominance upfront with the trio of Naziru Auwalu, Esor Achibong, and Chinemerem Ugwueze bossing the middle of the pack going into the half-hour mark but their dominance failed to result in a goal.

The home side quietly came into the late and would have been in front on 35 minutes but for the timely clearance by Ebuka Anthony while goalkeeper Detan Ogundare produced a spectacular save late into the half as both teams failed to find the back of the net going into the break.

The host, who were missing the services of their top marksman, Charles Chibuike, returned for the second stanza the stronger but despite their early dominance, could not find a way past the visitor’s backline ably marshaled by Uche John, Ebuka Anthony, Innocent Gabriel, and Kenneth Igboke.

Leonard Ugochukwu saw his connecting header off Esor Achibong’ well-taken corner kick come off the crossbar at 63 minutes just as the introduction of the duo of Ejike Uzoenyi and Godwin Obaje on 71 minutes pushed back the host and on 78 minutes, Shedrack Asiegbu could not believe how his well struck shot failed to rest inside the net after Uzoenyi had dummied his marker off an Obaje’ cut-back as Osayi made himself very big.

At 90 minutes, Osayi was alert to beat out a Uche John effort after he was released by an Uzoenyi’ defense splitting pass.

Coach Abdul Maikaba said after the encounter, “It was a good game that we would have won but all the same, we make do with the point we got from the match. My players seem too anxious to score which made them miss the opportunities we created. We continue to work on our weakness going into the Federation Cup.”