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| Lobi Stars vs Rangers Int'l at the cathedral Stadium, Enugu |
Lobi stars of makurdi return to winning ways after a disappointing home draw against Enyimba of Aba on match day one of the 2017/2018 season at the Aper Aku stadium in makurdi.
The "Ortom boys" as they are popularly called left no stone unturned as they stormed the coal city state with all expectations of picking the maximum three points at stake.
The Coach Solomon Ogbeide tutored side handed first team start to returnee Esosa Igbinoba,Samad Kadiri and new signing Tolulope Ojo who was making his debut in the colours of the makurdi landlords.
The Pride of Benue won the game by 2-1 in a keenly contested match at the Nnamdi Azikwe stadium,Enugu on Wednesday.
Samad Kadiri put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute when he capitalized on a defensive error from the Rangers defence to put the ball beyond on rushing goal keeper Femi Thomas in goal for the flying Antelope.
The 2016 NPFL champions came all out with the hope of getting an equalizer and in the 27th minute, Benue born Godwin Zaki found himself a good shooting space after wriggling his way through the lobi stars defence but his effort went wide.
The flying Antelope kept mounting pressure on their opponent but the defensive duo of Anthony Agbaji and Bright Apojuvwvewo kept all threats from Ibrahim Ajani and Abu Azeez under check.
In the 37th minute Rangers fc striker Abu Azeez tried a shot from long range but his effort was not good enough as the shot went off target.
Goal keeper Olufemi Kayode's heroics brought out of the best for lobi stars till the end of the first half.
But when the boys came out of the tunnel,the Antelope became more adventurous in search of an equalizer but goal keeper Olufemi Kayode's saves denied them goal scoring opportunity.
Samad Kadiri kept terrorising the back line of the antelope,in the 51st minute goal keeper Femi Thomas palmed away his shot to safety.
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While Rangers rose to the occasion by testing Lobi stars defence severally, they however failed to find the cutting edge and switched off again in the 72nd minute when Tolulope Ojo's well taken corner kick found Solomon kwambe who flipped the ball to Ayo Saka who wasted no time in heading the ball into the net to put the visitors two goals ahead.
Rangers international got the consolation in the 83rd minute when lobi's captain Anthony Agbaji upended Tayo Fabiyi in the box as the referee pointed to the spot.
Rangers Chiamaka Mudu wasted no time in sending goal keeper Kayode the wrong direction to reduce the deficit for the home side.
With this result lobi stars are currently 4th on the NPFL log with 4 points from two games and will be entertaining NPFL new boys GO Round fc of Omoku at the Aper Aku stadium on sunday.
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