NPFL: MFM, Rangers in drab stalemate in Agege

It was a very uninspiring day at the Soccer Temple as MFM FC and Rangers played out a barren draw on Sunday. The Olukoya Boys hosted their counterparts from Enugu, the Flying Antelopes in a Week 23 encounter in the NPFL.

Joint-top in the NPFL, Israel Abia missed a penalty for the visitors as both sides shared the spoils in front of the disappointed home fans and spectators at the stadium.

Locked on the same points (27) ahead of the game, it was an opportunity for either side to move as high as ninth on the NPFL table with a win, but after 90 minutes, they settled for a result that does neither any favours.

MFM were slightly  the better of the two teams especially in the first half, which they dominated and created a number of good chances but failed to take any due to the brilliance of Rangers goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu.

Indeed, the visitors had Bonsu to thank for leaving Agege with at least a point as the Ghanaian shot-stopper pulled off some wonderful saves in the first half to keep his side in the match.

First, he denied Akanni Elijah’s beautiful curler on 19 minutes with a superb one-handed save before once again coming to the aid of the Antelopes four minutes later off a free kick.

Meanwhile, Rangers also had chances of their own but joint-top scorer in the NPFL and new signing, Abia arrived Agege without his scoring boots after a game and day to forget.

He missed a number of clear-cut chances, notable amongst his misses were a one-on-one chance in the first half with Folarin Abayomi, the MFM goalkeeper, who saved easily a shot directed at him by the former Sunshine Stars man.

Six minutes into the second half, Rangers were presented an opportunity to break the deadlock when centre referee, Ferdinand Udoh handed them a penalty.

Abia stepped up to the plate but failed to convert with the same confidence with which he had picked the ball to play as he skies the ball way off the stadium.

In the end, a frustrating day at Agege for both teams and fans as it ended goalless.

“The problem we had today was that of scoring, ” MFM boss, Oludimu Edmund, lamented after the game. ”

“We just couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net especially in the first half, ” he added.

MFM remain 14th on the table on 28 points, the same as Rangers, who are however 12th thanks to their superior goal difference.