Rivers United FC produced a complete dominant performance as they defeated Rangers International in Thursday’s Nigeria Professional Football League rescheduled match at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, Footballville reports.
Rangers came in the match after title defense in the State FA Cup , but the Flying Antelopes injury records left them with a mountain to climb against a well motivated Stanley side.
The first chance of the fell to the visitors, after Ayogueke’s cross found Godwin Aguda who controls and shoots with his left foot from inside the box. His effort beats Akande in goal for Rivers United but Odunlami came to his rescue and cleared the ball off the line.
In the 7th minutes , another chance fell to Ayogueke again combined with Uchebo to set up Aguda who tees up Osamudiamen. The ad hoc left back shoots over from 20 yards.
After half hour mark, Rangers suffered another injury blow as Michael Uchebo was replaced with Ibrahim Ajani following a tackle from Festus Austin.
Six minutes later , Rivers United took the lead through Malachi Ohawume who scored from close range after the ball ricochets into his path off a Rangers body.
Five minutes after the resumption from half-time break Peter Ubakanma’s long throw caused chaos inside the Rangers box but the Flying Antelopes defence barely saw it through. At the other end, Ubakanma is at the right place to guard Ayogueke from an Ajani pass.
Rivers United doubled their lead in the 59th minutes as Wasiu Jimoh taps home a low cross by Konan N’gouan after a brilliant move down the left flank.
The home side completed the rout in the 76th minutes through Nelson Esor who scores with a brilliant individual effort. Does well to evade Pape Sane’s agricultural tackle before poking home beyond Nana Bonsu.
Rivers United for the first time since September 3, 2017 (vs Gombe United 3-0) scored 3 goals in a league match following their 3-0 win over Rangers .
Rangers who takes on Enyimba on Sunday remain on top of the Group A log with 31 points , while Rivers United moves to fifth position with 23 points, levelled on point with fourth place Lobi Stars, one point behind third place MFM and two points behind second place Enyimba.
