BY SAB OSUJI

Suleiman Alli, Rangers Chief Coach, summarised the mood in the Coal City Flying Antelopes fold after their pyrrhic 2-1 against Niger Tornadoes in a feisty NPFL Matchday Three fixture at their 'transit' home ground, Awka City Stadium, on Sunday.

Alli was well aware that despite his charges bossing their guests in controlling ball possession from start to finish, stero-type approach and lack of cutting edge in the final third diminished what could have possibly been a 'goal feast' evening for the seven-time Nigeria Champions.

For their lack of cutting edge, the 2-1 final scoreline appeared respectful, atleast, enough to guarantee the Fidelis Ilechukwu charges the maximum points, maintaining a 100 percent form on their home front so far this term, having earlier 'disunited' Doma in their opening season game.

The Rangers Number Two technical helmsman served out pleasing words to the teams hordes of fans when he promised the fans would witness the Rangers 'dream team' they had been clamouring for.

“It was a tough match against an 'excellent' side", Alli yelled when he spoke after the match in place of his boss, Fidelis Ilechukwu.

"But we thank God for giving us the three points at stake which is very important.

"We hope to keep working on the team till we get it right. Hopefully, the dream team we clamour for would emerge before our next game”.

Rangers next home match is a Match Day five fixture against Kano Pillars after the Match Day four trip to Kwara United.

Rangers went into an early lead after Joel Odoh planted his headed effort across the line despite goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo's one-handed 'save'. But it was clearly too late as the first assistant referee correctly ran to the center, signaling it was a goal. That was precisely on the 17th minute.

Experienced forward, Godwin Obaje, a former FC Ifeanyi Ubah striker, doubled Rangers advantage on the dot of 45th minute as the Flying Antelopes went into the break 2-0 up.

The restart was never to be same as the first period. They appeared to pull off the pedal and were punished just nine minutes after the restart. Bashir Usman's exquisite strike of extraordinary quality from the edge of the area was wayward spilled back onto the running path of the striker when the goalkeeper should have parried it sideways. Usman did not make any mistake from the 'gift' as he halved his side's deficit.

With scores now at 2-1, Tornadoes threw everyman upfield but Rangers backline defended stoutly until the final whistle.