Rangers rout Niger Tornados with four goals.
By Emma Ogbuehi
A gutsy second half display from home team, Rangers capped an enterprising Matchday 4 encounter against Niger Tornadoes at the FCifeanyiUbah stadium, Nnewi.
Four second-half goals from Kenechukwu Agu, Shedrack Asiegbu, and Christian Nnaji made sure the seven-time league champions got their first home win in the on-going 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Rangers had lost 0-1 to Enyimba on MatchDay 2 at the same venue.
After a cagey first 45 minutes, the game came to life when out of pressure from the home side Chinonso Ezeikwu was brought down inside Niger Tornadoes penalty area with the resultant penalty cooly converted by Kenechukwu Agu in the 58th minute.
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Rangers were again on the offensive and in the 71st minute, Kenechukwu’s free-kick outside Tornadoes 18yard box was deflected by the wall to make it two for Rangers and Kenechukwu’s second of the day.
The combination of Rangers front line of Kenechukwu, Shedrack Asiegbu, Elijah Ani, Chidiebere Obodo, and Ugochukwu Ugwuoke refused to take their foot off the pedal and again, it paid off in two minutes after with Shedrack Asiegbu gaining from a momentary loss of concentration and a mix up inside Tornadoes back line to put the hosts three goals up.
As the game was heading to the end, new entrant Christian Nnaji added his name to the score sheet after he calmly jabbed in a cross from captain Tope Olusesi. At this stage, the game was beyond redemption for Tornadoes as Rangers came back to winning ways after Matchday 3 goalless draw away to Sunshine.
Rangers will now focus on their next game away to Kwara United while Tornadoes will welcome Rivers United on MatchDay 5.