NPFL: Ilechukwu vows to keep the momentum as Rangers beat Heartland 2-1 to go top of the table

Enugu Rangers coach Ilechukwu Fidelis says he and his men will keep the momentum following his side’s 2-1 defeat of Heartland of Owerri in an oriental derby
on Sunday in Aba.

The Flying Antelopes won for the third time away from home this season to strecth their unbeaten run to nine games and go top of the log and Ikechukwu is
confident they are ready for the battles ahead as the league moves near the business end.

‘It was a great game between two great sides and I am very glad that we ended the game on the winning side. We worked very hard to earn this victory and I
thank God for it and hopefully, we shall keep the momentum to push higher in the league,’ said Ilechukwu after the victory.

Rangers did a double over their eastern neighbors to add to the reverse fixture’ 2-0 spanking to leapfrog Lobi Stars and occupy the top position on the log.

A goal in either half of the highly entertaining encounter that was watched by an appreciable number of spectators at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba, saw the Enugu
side take a late first-half lead as defense-general, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi jumped the highest to head home a Kalu Nweke took corner-kick on 38 minutes while
Nweke slapped home 25 meters shot on 54 minutes to set the Coal City side on a winning path.

Substitute, Chukwuebuka Ogbonna, cut the deficit by a half as he reacted well to blast home on 90+4 minutes after being left unmarked by the backline of
Rangers that failed to react well to a corner kick.
The host also showed a fierce fighting spirit as the match went on, especially in the early part of the second stanza, but, tried as much as they could, they
could not break down the defense line of the visitors ably led by the duo of Austin Opara and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi.

The table topping Rangers will next host Sunshine Stars in a matchday 28 fixture after prosecuting the final match of 2024 Enugu F.A Cup against NNL side,
Coal City United at the weekend in Enugu.