It was an electrifying first-half performance from the wards of coach Salisu Yusuf as the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C completely overrun Nation-Wide League 1 side, Udala F.C of Awka with a 4-0 demolition in a practice match inside the main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Ugwuoke Ugochukwu also known as ‘Kanda’ was the star of the match as he scored a brace and assisted in one of the goals to send the resolute Udala boys back to Awka empty-handed.
The sleeky Ugwuoke was on hand to belt home from the edge of the box on 15 minutes after dribbling past two defenders to blast past a sprawling Chisom in goal for the visiting side.
On 27 minutes, Ugwuoke was on hand to poke home his second of the day as a build-up from the right found the unmarked midfield maestro who shot past the groping hands of the third tie league side’ goaltender.
It would have been a harvest of goals but for some wasted efforts and Chinonso Eziekwe made up for his many missed opportunities as he reacted the quickest inside the box to connect home and Ugwuoke Ugochukwu perfect pass on 40 minutes.
The introduction of the quartet of Ifegwu Ojukwu, Esor Achibong, Shedrack Asiegbu, and Dauda Madaki could not help break down the resolute play of the visitors but Loute Isaac put the icing on the cake with a sublime strike-off well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box on 88 minutes.
The Nigerian born Benin republic left-wing-back, Loute Isaac, said after the grueling encounter, “It was a good game with a lot of goals that would have been more but for the missed opportunities. After our camping in Abakaliki, this is a sure way to start our last phase of preparation for the new season.”
For coach Chinedu Emmanuel of Udala F.C, he said after the encounter, “We did not have a good first half but improved much better in the second and showed some stuff that we are made of but failed to convert chances we created. It was a very good match and we have learned some lessons.”
Rangers will again trade tackle with another team from Onitsha coached by former midfield maestro, Ifeanyi Okagbue on Friday, December 4, 2020, in Enugu.
