- Mi mi ko
By Tunde Liadi
Heartland’s first half profligacy from numerous scoring opportunities got duly punished in the second half of their Matchday 8 fixture against FC IfeanyiUbah. It ended 1-1
Heartland went in front from Adachi Emmanuel’s well dispatched spot-kick in the 31st minute while Chinemerem Igboeli got a surprise late gift from Heartland Goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa to nod the ball home for the equaliser in the 86th minute.
It was a game of two halves but Heartland would be kicking themselves in the heel for failing to convert any of the gilt-edge chances they had in the first-half.
Heartland head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu opted to stick with almost all the players that started when they faced Jigawa Golden Stars in Kaduna on Sunday with the exception of Ugochukwu Aputachi Leonard who was replaced by Adachi.
In similar vein, FC IfeanyiUbah Coach, Uche Okagbue also made only a change to the Anambra Warriors side that pipped Wikki Tourists 1-0 in Nnewi with the only change being Nonso Nzediegwu who didn’t travel at all with the team to Owerri and his place taken up by Joy Adejare who was a substitute last weekend.
The opening exchanges of the game belonged to Heartland with Bright Onyedikachi in superb form just like it was in Kaduna last weekend. He caused FC IfeanyiUbah lots of problems in the process.
The first chance of the game came in the 13th minute to the home team through Pascal Eze who nodded a beautiful pullout from Emmanuel Nnamani but his header aimed at the net was well dealt with by FC IfeanyiUbah’s goalkeeper, Sharp Uzoigwe.
After some other half chances which was not converted, Heartland unsurprisingly raced into the lead in the 31st minute from the penalty spot after the centre referee adjudged that Abel James handled the ball in the 18 yards box.
Adachi stepped forward and sent the Anambra Warriors’ goalkeeper, Uzoigwe the wrong way to score.
The goal was a tonic that got them pressing to increase the lead. But while they created scoring opportunities, they equally fluffed. Samuel Nnoshiri, Emmanuel Nnamani, Shedrack Oghali, and Adachi were the fluffers in chief.
One last chance to double their lead before halftime came when Nnoshiri had a one-on-one with Goalkeeper Uzoigwe. His shot on target saw Uzoigwe blocking with his body while Oghali who was presented with the rebound miscued in his attempt to volley the ball in.
FC IfeanyiUbah emerged from the second half the better of the two teams and they started orchestrating moves to equalise. It was no surprise they got their chance four minutes from time through Chinemerem Igboeli off a fine assist from Obonda.
Obonda aimed his free kick towards goal from the home team’s right flank but Ezenwa who should have made a routine catch mis-judged the flight of the ball and which fell to an unmarked Igboeli to nod into an empty net.
It was a stunning equaliser that left the hosts insufficient time to re-strategize to secure a winning goal.
With the draw, Heartland moved a step to the 18th spot with seven points from eight games and will play MFM in Lagos.
FC IfeanyiUbah are 16th with eight points from the same number of games. They welcome Kano Pillars for their next home fixture which will hold in Port Harcourt this weekend.
Heartland FC Team List
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (c), Amaefule Chizoba (Akanimo Edianaobong 66′), Paschal Eze, Ikwugbado Kenneth, Benjamin Francis, Gbadamosi Jimoh, Samuel Nnoshiri, Nnamani Emmanuel (Uche Oguchi 66′), Onyedikachi Bright, Adachi Emmanuel (Amah Chibundu 84′) Oghali Shedrack (Ayo Adetola 66′)
Unused Substitutes
Fatuwase Segun, Chidera Eze, Bafan Augustine, Ikenna Agozie, Akuneto Chijioke
Yellow Cards: Chizoba Amaefule 37′, Pascal Eze 42′ (Heartland)
Goal: Adachi Emmanuel 31′ (Heartland)
Head coach: Fidelis Ilechukwu
FC IfeanyiUbah Team List
Sharp Uzoigwe, Christian Molokwu Evans Obonda, Abel James Tochukwu Anuenyiagu, Patrick Egeonu Saidu Adamu (Simeon Umeh 90′), Joy Adejare (Salau Samuel 75′), Ezekiel Haastrop (Chinemerem igboeli 59′) , Ekene Awazie, Uzochukwu Ifejiofor (Eric Oguocha 56′)
Unused Substitutes
Franklin Akwari, Chidiogo Muoebonam, Uche Onuoha
Goal: Chinemerem Igboeli 86′ (FC IfeanyiUbah) Assisted by Evans Obonda
Yellow Card(s) : Sharp Uzoigwe 90′ (FC IfeanyiUbah)
Head Coach: Uche Okagbue
Man of the Match: Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyuUbah
