‘Oriental sides’ Enugu Rangers and Abia Warriors both recorded home victories in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 29 matches played on Saturday.
At the Awka township stadium where Rangers are playing their home matches, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ laboured to a slim 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Dakkada FC.
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Rangers who occupied the fourth position on the table were favoured to win but the victory didn’t come on a platter of gold as they had to endure a frustrating first half in the hands of the visitors.
The closest Rangers came to scoring was in the 15th minute when ace striker Ossy Martins rose highest in the box of Dakkada but directed his header off target.
However, on resumption, Rangers broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Christian Nnaji scored the only goal of the match with a clinical header off the cross of the lively Eso Archibong.
Rangers pushed for more goals but the resilient Dakkada who attempted on a few occasions to catch their hosts on a quick counter-attack refused to concede more grounds.
The victory moved Rangers back to third on the table pending the result of today’s match between Rivers United and Remo Stars who are now in fourth place with 46 points.
In the other week 29 match played in Okigwe, title-chasing Plateau United were beaten 2-0 at Abia Warriors.
Plateau United were offered an opportunity to take the lead in the 27th minute but Akila Jesse squandered the penalty kick that was awarded after he was upended in the box by Innocent Gabriel.
Gabriel, whose mistake a few minutes earlier could have given Plateau United the lead moved from a villain to a hero when his 35th-minute free kick from 25 yards gave Abia Warriors the lead.
In the second half, Plateau United threw everything at Abia Warriors but it was the hosts who doubled their lead with the last kick of the match when Imeh Atobasi scored in the fifth minute of second-half added time.
Despite the loss, Plateau United are still occupying the second position with 54 points.
