Heartland FC produced a sensational second half performance to halt the winning streak of Akwa United over the Naze Millionaires after a 2-1 victory at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday evening.
Two second-half goals from Samuel Nnoshiri from the penalty spot and Pascal Eze in the 52nd and 80th minutes turned the tide in favour of the Scientific Boys who were a goal behind in the 34th minute through Mfon Udoh strike for the visitors.
The Naze Millionaires began the first half poorly and could have been a couple of goals down before halftime if not for the superb reflexes of Goalkeeper, Ilechukwu Ezenwa and the wayward performance of the Promise Keepers’ attackers in the final third. Two second half goals from Samuel Nnoshiri who converted from the penalty spot on the 52nd minute and a late strike from defender Paschal Eze on the 7minuteinut
The victory was the first for the Naze Millionaires against the Promise Keepers since 25th June 2016, with the technical ingenuity of Fidelis Illechukwu proving to be crucial against a more organised Akwa United in the second half. Akwa United were gunblazing from the start of the game who seemed to have put every of the instruction from their head coach, Kennedy Boboye to great use especially in the first half.
After the game Heartland Assistant Coach Ezekiel Onyegbule who spoke to the press acknowledged that Akwa United unsettled his team. “we were seriously worried, but after the first half was called off we went into the dressing room, we addressed the players, made some tactical inputs in the team, we came back and got two goals,” Onyegbule told Heartland Media.
Heartland have only kept one clean sheet and have conceded 12 goals after Matchday 6 of the Nigeria Professional Football League, but Coach Onyegbule reiterated that the team is still a work in progress and will fix up every department in the team as the season progresses
“As I speak Heartland is still a work in progress we are trying to put every department in order as the game progresses, we are worried anyway but then we are using every game bit by bits to put whole lots of things in shape,” Onyegbule concluded.
Heartland improved to 16th position with six points from six games while Akwa United slid two places down to 14th on the log with six points from the same number of games.
The Naze Millionaires will travel to Kaduna for a fixture with Jigawa Golden Stars on Sunday, January 31st in a NPFL Matchday Seven tie.
