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By Tunde Liadi
Heartland faltered in their quest to close in on the top five on the league table following a goalless draw against a determined and rugged Plateau United at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Wednesday night.
The tie initially billed for 4.00 pm and scheduled for live broadcast on NPFLTv didn’t start until 7.22 pm after a downpour forced a change of plan with the tie torn between a shift to Thursday morning or for the game to be played under floodlights the same night.
A decision was made for the game to go ahead on Wednesday night by 7.00pm.
The game eventually kicked off by 7.22 pm after all pre-match formalities had been performed with the home team setting the ball rolling through the pass of Ivorien striker, Pascal Seka.
Fidelis Ilechukwu gave a hint he would be targeting a home win that would have taken the Naze Millionaires to the top six with three profound changes to the team that got beaten 3-1 in Lafia against Nasarawa United three days earlier. Ikechukwu Ezenwa who has featured in Heartland’s couple of matches was rested for goalkeeper, Chijioke Ejiogu while Chizoba Amaefula and Jimoh Gbadamosi were replaced by Chidera Eze and Chijioke Akuneto.
Plateau United on their part did not want to rest on their laurels despite thrashing Wikki Tourists 4-1 last weekend at the New Jos Stadium, Jos. Head coach, Abdu Maikaba tweaked his team selection with the introduction Mike Zaruma, Gabriel Wassa, Charles Henlong and Uche Onwuasonaya while the quartet of Abubakar Ibrahim, Daniel Itodo, Nelrot Silas and Amos Gyan were dropped from the start squad.
Heartland quickly settled down into the affair and Bright Onyedikachi’s attempt to dribble his way through Plateau United’s defence was foiled by an alert Mike Zaruma in the third minute of the game.
Plateau United’s first real chance of the game also came early, in the fifth minute, through Ibrahim Mustapha who was a constant threat to Heartland’s defence. He gave a defence-splitting pass with his head but goalkeeper Chijioke Ejiogu quickly came out of his goal area to make a save before the ball could get to Muhammed Zulkifilu.
The home team was presented with a loose ball in the opponent’s goal area in the seventh minute through Chijioke Akuneto but the Naze Millionaires’ midfielder skied the ball when he attempted to shoot at goal.
There was a decent chance presented to Adachi in the 27th minute but his shot was unable to trouble goalie Adamu Abubakar who made an easy catch.
Heartland had their anxious moment in the 35th minute when Plateau United’s hitman, Mustapha combined beautifully with Uche Onwuasonaya to create panic in the Owerri side’s goal area but agile Chidera Eze quickly intercepted to avert danger.
There was controversy in the 44th minute of the game when the home team thought they were a goal up after Adachi found the back of the net but the first assistant referee flagged him offside to the angst of the home team as the first half ended goalless.
It was Heartland that started the second half with more urgency. Barely two minutes into the second half, Emeka Atuloma gave a quick pass to an unmarked Chidera Eze but the defender’s final pass aimed for Onyedikachi was intercepted to foil the hosts first attacking move of the second half.
Heartland should have taken the lead in the 55th minute through Adachi. There was a miscommunication between Plateau’s Andrew Ikefe and Ibrahim Buhari in the defence and the ball fell to the path of the Owerri side’s attacker who ballooned his shot when it was easier to tap into an empty net.
Adachi missed another decent chance in the 61st minute. A well floated cross from the right flank meant for better placed Chijioke Akuneto but Adachi intercepted it and nodded wide.
There was still another final chance for the home team to score in the 92nd minute after a good footwork by Chidera Eze but Maduforo’s effort went wide as both settled for a share of the spoils.
Heartland coach, Ezekiel Onyegbula blamed their loss of two points on the chances they frittered in the game but was quick to point out that the downpour that forced the game to start over three hours behind schedule was another factor.
“This draw is a result of the downpour and the game had to start over three hours late. We did our best but we were careless in scoring and it cost us he three points.
“We have seen the loopholes and I believe we are going to do better in our subsequent games.” Onyegbula told www.npfl.ng
Speaking after the game, Plateau United gaffer, Abdu Maikaba praised his players defending from start to finish but noted that their attention is on their weekend fixture with Kano Pillars in Jos.
“It was a nice game and I believe the players would have done better with this weather but the long stay before the commencement of the game affected both teams,” Maikaba informed npfl.ng.
“It was a good game. Heartland played so well to win but my boys defended so well and I am happy with that.
“The target is the next home game and we will try to get the maximum three points even though it is going to be a very difficult game.
Heartland slid to the eighth spot with 33 points from 23 games as a result of the home draw while Plateau United are 10th with 32 points from the same number of games.
Heartland FC Team List:
Chijioke Ejiogu, Chidera Eze, Austine Opara, Orji Kalu, Pascal Eze, Kelechi Chimezie, Emeka Atuloma, Chijioke Akuneto (Ugochukwu Aputazie, 88′), Bright Onyedikachi (Chijioke Mbaoma, 73′), Emmanuel Adachi (Kingsley Maduforo, 68′), Pascal Seka.
Unused Substitutes:
Emeka Nwabulu, Chijioke Opara, Issah Lenkat, Chukwudi Nwaodu, Monday Yakubu, Jimoh Gbadamosi.
Man of the Match: Chidera Eze (Heartland FC)
Plateau United Team List:
Adamu Abubakar, Mike Zaruma, Gabriel Wassa, Andrew Ikefe, Ibrahim Buhari, Charles Henlong, Isah Ndala (Dennis Nya, 87′) , Oche Ochowechi, Muhammed Zulkifilu (Nenrot Silas, 71′), Ibrahim Mustapha, Uche Onwuasonaya (Abba Umar, 71′)
Unused Substitutes:
Panshak Silas, Elisha Golbe, Sunday Anthony, Abdulrahman Bashir, John Dangha, Daniel Itodo.
Yellow Card: Ibrahim Mustapha, 40′ (Plateau United).
