Sports
GODWIN Obaje on Wednesday in Abuja, grabbed a brace for Rangers International of Enugu as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubside knocked Kano Pillars out of the 2023 Federation Cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the round of 32 encounter played at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, was settled by Obaje’s two first half goals.
Rangers struggled to get a foothold in the early stages of the game, but opened scoring against the run of play in the third minute.
This was after Obaje scored with a brilliant strike, following Gabriel Innocent’s pin-point through pass into the opponent’s vital area.
The goal however, did not change anything as Kano Pillars continued to control and dominate proceedings.
The visitors created several chances as they went in search for the much needed equaliser but failed to convert their goal scoring opportunities.
The visitors’ best scoring chance came in the 15th minute when Aliyu Umar was put through on goal by Kano Pillars left-back Fahad Usman, but Umar fluffed his lines with only goalkeeper Datan Ogundare to beat.
The Sai Masu Gida boys continued to dictate the pace of the game and had another chance at goal in the 40th minute.
This was when Kano Pillars’ full-back Mustapha Jubril’s lovely cross from the right split the hosts’ defence and found Biodun Yusuf just outside the box.
But goalkeeper Ogundare made himself big as he made light work of Yusuf’s rasping low shot and parried the ball out for a corner.
Rangers continued to soak up the pressure and would score a second goal, just two minutes before the break.
This was after attacking midfielder Shedrack Asiegbu dribbled past two defenders before releasing a through pass to Obaje who beat goalkeeper Joshua Enaholu with clinical tap-in into the left corner.
Kano Pillars began to chase the game from then on as Head Coach Evans Ogenyi made several substitutions in a bid to unlock Rangers’ resolute defence.
However, as the game wore on, the hosts were more comfortable with sitting back and catching their opponents on the counter as they ran out 2-0 visitors and sent Kano Pillars packing from the cup competition. (NAN)
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Tags: Datan Ogundare Godwin Obaje Sai Masu Gida
