Heartland FC ended their eight game winless streak with a superb 2-0 home win over Abia Warriors on Wednesday evening in a Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 25 Oriental derby game played at the Awka City Stadium.
It was a marvelous return to winning ways for the Naze Millionaires who last win came in January against Remo Stars in Owerri in Matchday 16 fixture that ended 3-1.
Heartland FC led by Christian Obi gave a glimpse of what to expect against Abia Warriors when they travelled to Katsina to face the Chanji Boys. They were a few more minutes from recording a famous away win before the controversial ending.
Against Abia Warriors, Heartland FC began the game impressive in the opening exchanges but it was not long they started conceding possession to the visitors who hold the ace in the fixtures’ head to head. Bethel Orji tutored side almost got the curtain raiser in the 12th minute when the home team’s defence switched off allowing Abia Warriors striker to go one on one with Goalkeeper, Chisom Chiaha. The attacker let off a piledriver but Chiaha pulled a magnificent save to deny the visitors from going into the lead. It was one of the defining moments of the game.
Not too long thereafter a series of attacking forays into the vital area of Abia Warriors put Onyekachi Okafor in good position to shoot just at the edge of the 18 yards box and ball went beyond the hands of Goalkeeper, Johnson Nmecha in the 20th minute.
Heartland FC sensing they could get more goals, continued with the waves of attack and it was not long thereafter the goal became doubled. Ikechukwu Mgbemena who is in his debut season in the topflight nodded the second goal in the 25th minute to the delight of the cheering fans.
The first half ended with Heartland FC in ascendancy.
The second half didn’t produce much with Abia Warriors striving to level the tie while Heartland FC resisted all their Oriental Brothers overtures to keep a clean sheet and a fantastic maximum points.
One of the highlights of the second half was the straight red cards given to Heartland’s Andrew Abalogu and Ijoma Antoine in the 59th minute. Abalogu had reacted angrily to the tackle from Antoine on Ikechukwu Mgbemena and it drew the ire of the centre referee who didn’t hesitate in giving them the marching orders after establishing what happened.
Tobi Iyanda, one of the Substitutes almost provided the assist for the third goal when opened up the Abia Warriors defence and gave a good pass to Samuel Stone. The striker’s shot went wide to the chagrin of the fans who wanted the home team to record a third goal.
The win ensured Heartland FC head coach, Christian Obi recorded his first topflight win as a coach and he told journalists that he was elated and relieved that the Naze Millionaires have returned to winning ways and that the win would be the vista to further vital points both home and away.
“It was a good game for the team and I want to thank everyone who has supported me all these while. We have got the much needed win and are eager for more both home and away,” Obi said.
“The battle to leave the drop zone is on and we are determined to achieve that.”
Heartland will make a short trip to Port Harcourt as a guest of Rivers United this weekend.
Goal scorers:
Heartland 2- Onyekachi Okafor 20′, Ikechukwu Mgbemena 25′ Abia Warriors
Caution:
Red Card: Andrew Abalogu 59′ (Heartland), Ijoma Antoine (Abia Warriors) 59′
Heartland FC XI Vs Abia Warriors
Chisom Chiaha, Austin Osayande (Promise Anyanwu, 78′), Andrew Abalogu, Barnabas Ingya,
Chinedu Ozor, Nnaemeka Anyanwu,
Chukwuebuka Ogbonna (Divine Ukadike, 63′), Chijioke Opara, Onyekachi Okafor (Samuel Stone, 78′), Stephen Chukwude (Tobi Iyanda 63′), Ikechukwu Mgbemena( Moses Ugwu 84′)
Unused Substitutes
Paul Godwin, Ikechukwu Brandon, Ugochukwu Leonard, Peters Afolayan,
