Rangers Football Club of Enugu are back to summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League with a home victory over rivals, Heartland in the Oriental Derby.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side secured a 2-nil home victory as they toppled Remo Stars off the top spot on Sunday.
The former League Champions took the lead very early in the game. Kazeem Ogunleye converted the chance that fell to him calmly as the home side took control of the match.
Rangers ended the first half with the a goal advantage in a quite cagey affair at the Awka City Stadium.
The Flying Antelopes started the second half the better side and they got a reward for their efforts as they were awarded a penalty less than 10 minutes after result.
Chisom Chiaha saved Godwin Obaje’s strike from six yards including a rebound but the double efforts of the goalkeeper was dashed as Kenneth Igboke put the ball beyond his reach in another rebound to give Rangers a 2-nil lead.
The match ended with the home side claiming all three points as they return to the top of the NPFL log with 13 points after matchday 7.
Im other results, the Gombe Derby lived up to expectations! Doma United secured a massive win away from home as they put Gombe United to the sword in front of their vociferous home crowd.
Despite the Pantami Stadium being full to the rafters, Doma United overcame the intimidation as they thrashed the home side by three goals.
All three goals came in the second half of the match as the away side as Akinade Onigbinde’s side took charge of the game.
Emmanuel Ekpeyong scored the first goal in the 54th minute as he drags the ball from the by-line before unleashing a lef-footed strike.
Emmanuel Jesam doubled the lead of the Doma United two minutes later. The lanky forward took advantage of a long ball from his goalpeeker into the opposition’s goal area before bueying a left-footed effort beyond the reach of the Akor Itodo.
Doma United completed the damage four minutes from regulation time. Emmanuel Jesam secured his brace via the same skill from his goalkeeper, Kingdom Osayi.
However, this time, Emmanuel deployed his right foot in executing the job as his secured a rare feat in the Nigeria Premier Football League: three goals, three points and a clean sheet away from home.
High-flying Remo Stars failed to shine in Benin-City as they fell to a narrow lost to Monday Odigie’s Bendel Insurance.
Daniel Ogunmodede’s side have now dropped from the top spot to third on the log with 12 points although with a game at hand.
NPFL24 Matchday 7 (Sunday) Results 👇
Gombe Utd 0-3 Doma Utd.
Rivers Utd 1-1 Sunshine Stars.
Akwa Utd 0-0 Plateau Utd.
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Remo Stars.
Abia Warriors 2-1 Katsina Utd.
Rangers 2-0 Heartland FC.
Enyimba 1-0 Kwara Utd.
Shooting Star 4-1 Niger Tornadoes
