NPFL: Rangers Fight Back to Hold Gombe
Rangers International FC of Enugu and Gombe United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game wednesday.
Obinna Nwobodo took the game by the scruff of the neck with a virtuoso display capped by two goals either side of the break but the hosts battled back gamely to claim a share of the spoils at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe.
Nwobodo’s first goal on 12 minutes was largely down to great work by Osas Okoro who showed great skill and composure before squaring for the midfielder to tap home from close range.
His second in the 58th minute was down to sheer individual brilliance as the Flying Antelopes dared to dream, licking their lips in anticipation over the prospect of amassing maximum points away from home.
Those hopes disappeared in a flash as two goals in a space of 180 seconds dramatically turned the game on its head.
Austine Oladapo got the fight-back underway with a goal from close range and he completed his brace soon after from the penalty spot after the referee adjudged that a Rangers player had handled the ball in the box.
The hosts thought they had got the final say deep into stoppage time as Ibrahim Abdullahi struck in the second minute of stoppage time to temporarily give the hosts a 3-2 advantage.
Manic celebrations by the home fans proved premature in the end as Osas Okoro struck with literally the last kick of the game to give his side a share of the spoils.
Rangers stay in 16th place on the NPFL standings with 23 points from 19 points while Gombe United climbed one place on the log to 17th, leapfrogging 3SC who now drop to 18th.
Gombe United have now amassed 23 points from 19 matches this season.
