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Gombe United, Enugu Rangers share spoils in six-goal thriller

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Enugu Rangers threw away a two-goal lead against Gombe United in a thrilling league game, with the reigning champions rescuing a point late on.

Obinna Nwobodo and Austine Oladapo scored a brace each in a thrilling rescheduled contest at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe, while Osas Okoro struck a late equaliser for beleaguered fallen heavyweights Rangers to lift them out of the relegation zone.

The point leaves Rangers on 23 points in 16th, while struggling Gombe, also on 23 points, overtake Shooting Stars into 17th.

Rangers continued a strong run of scoring in the opening quarter of games this season when they took the lead in the 12th minute through Nwobodo's tap in as the midfielder got on the end of an Okoro assist.

Afolabi Abdulwaheed and Oladapo caused the Rangers defence relentless trouble with their movement and prowess in the air, but in a marked improvement from some of their recent contests, the Flying Antelopes defenders remained resolute.

Man of the moment Ifeanyi George thought he had doubled the champions' lead three minutes into the second half only to see his strike chalked off for offside, but Nwobodo doubled Rangers' advantage with a superb individual goal as the visitors appeared to be cruising to victory.

The home team began their revival by scoring two goals in two minutes through the outstanding Oladapo to level the scores.

The midfielder reduced the deficit following a goalmouth melee and completed the comeback from the penalty spot after the ref spotted a handball in the box.

There was drama late on when Ibrahim Abdullahi struck what seemed like the winning goal for Gombe United two minutes into stoppage time, but Rangers responded in emphatic fashion when Okoro struck an audacious long-range free kick in the dying minutes of the contest.