By Sobenna Nwagbo

Rangers International football club of Enugu was Saturday forced to a 3 – 3 draw by Akwa United in Matchday 3 of Nigeria Professional Football League Championship (Supper Six) going on at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Rangers approached the game with high spirit and believe that the maximum three points will be hers but ended up with one point.

The first half ended in a goalless draw. Coming back in the second half of the play, Akwa stepped up pressure that resulted in Rangers defender handling the ball at the 18 yard box and that subsequently resulted in a penalty. Cyril Olisema converting it into the net in 47th minutes when he sent the Rangers goalkeeper a wrong way.

Rangers defender Isiaka Oladuntoye was given a red card at the 62nd minutes for fouling an Akwa player. Oladuntoye had at first received the yellow card before the second yellow card that resulted to the red one and reduced Rangers to 10 man against Akwa’s 11 man.

With this, it began to drawn on the ‘flying Antelopes’ that it needs to fly higher and dominate the kingdom.
Rangers in 65th minutes through Chiamaka Madu equalized the goal. The competition became more competitive and Rangers in 69th minutes through former Supper Eagles’ International, Uchebo Michael assisted by Bobby Clement topped the score line for Rangers. In a quick succession at 71st minutes, Rangers had scored the 3rd goal from the efforts of same Uchebo Michael assisted by Bobby Clement and Aguda Godwin.

The match concentration at this time came to the centre of the field for some time before Akwa found herself close to Rangers 18 yard box and the ball was allowed into the corner. It was a dead ball that confused most people in the field if it was actually a goal or not in 89th minutes. As a result, the goal was not celebrated by even the Akwa players.

Later, the 4th official signaled 5 minutes of added time. The referee awarded a free kick to Akwa that was played. The Referee and the Assistant Referee were at loggerhead over if it was a goalkick or corner kick? The Referee overruled and awarded a corner kick. The same as the second goal, the third one and the two goals recorded for Denis Nga (89′ and 90+4) respectively.

Rangers Technical Adviser, Olugbenga Ogunbote in post match interview said, “The game has been played and unfortunately, we couldn’t manage the game at later part of the game”. He further stated that, “sometimes It is like that in game, for me we have learnt one or two things from the game and move ahead”.

In other results of the day;
Kano Pillars 2
FC Ifeanyi Uba 1

Enyimba 3
Lobi 1

Rangers 3
Akwa 3

Next Rangers match is on Monday with Kano Pillars by 3pm.