NPFL: Onyemaechi scores as Sporting Lagos lose 2-0 to Enugu Rangers

Sporting Lagos have won four league games out of thirteen, but all of their wins have come at home, as they’re yet to witness victory on away soil.

Enugu Rangers soiled the birthday celebrations of Sporting Lagos’ coach, Paul Offor, as they defeated the noisy Lagosians by two goals at the Awka City Stadium, Soccernet.ng reports.

Sporting got an injury boost as their star striker and top goalscorer, Jonathan Alukwu made the team’s bench, after missing the past three games due to an illness.

Coach Paul opted to keep faith in the two strikers he started last time in Godwin Udoh and Naibe Akpesiri, meaning Junior Lokosa and Alukwu were kept as options off the bench.

Nine minutes into the game, the home side took the lead through a well-placed shot from Austine Onyemaechi, pegging the visitors back.

Sporting, who had just one win in their last five games went into the half a goal down and were desperate not to drop more points on the road.

On the hour mark, Coach Paul made a triple change, with Alukwu, Odafi, and Godwin Odibo replacing Godwin Udoh, Chisom Orji and Henry Ndedi in a bid to at least secure a point.

The Naija Super 8 winning gaffer brought on Super Eagles striker, Junior Lokosa, in the closing minutes of the game to help his side find an equalizer, but instead, they conceded a penalty.

A late tackle on a Rangers player made the referee point to the spot and Augustine Agu Kenechukwu wasted no time in scoring from twelve yards to secure three points for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men.

Full time in Awka.

Rangers🦌|2-0| Sporting Lagos🟡#NPFL24 #SportingAway pic.twitter.com/8QiExwDS2j

— Sporting Lagos (@SportingLagos) December 17, 2023

Sporting return to the drawing board in hopes of securing three points in front of their fans on Thursday as they welcome Bayelsa United to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.