By Tunde Liadi
A very impressive first half display fetched Heartland a 2-1 home win over a stubborn Jigawa Golden Stars in a league tie played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday.
The Naze Millionaires scored first through Chukwudi Nwaodu in the second minute before Emeka Atuloma doubled the advantage 24 minutes later but Samuel Stone’s eighth goal of the campaign in the 34th minute made for an anxious end to the MatchDay 27 fixture.
Heartland had lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in Kaduna after they let slip their lone goal lead as their host scored twice in the final eight minutes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
For Heartland, there two compelling reasons to win on Sunday.
They had lost one of their former players, Collins Amadi aka Zigima to the cold hands of death earlier the same day after a protracted ailment. On a competitive reason, they have not won in their previous five games including their last two home games to Plateau United and Rivers United which ended in draws.
There was a minute silence observed by both teams before the start of hostilities in Owerri with Heartland players wearing black armbands to mourn their departed ex-player who also plied his trade for Enugu Rangers, Enyimba and others.
Heartland FC quickly settled into the game and by the second minute they had the ball at the back of the visitors’ net through Chukwudi Nwaodu who nodded home from close range off a goalmouth scramble. It was his second goal in as many games.
The opening goal jolted the visitors and this gave Heartland the impetus to pour more men forward to capitalise on the visitors slow start and they were rewarded with the second goal in the 24th minute through Emeka Atuloma’s curler from about 25 yards off a freekick.
The Naze Millionaires missed some gilt edge chances that could have widened the margin. Jigawa Golden Stars reduced the deficit in the 34th minute when Stone collected a pinpoint pass from strike partner, Abdullahi Musa Lala and lifted the ball over an on-rushing goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
In the second half it was more of Heartland FC trying to assert their superiority with some half chances that came their way while Stone and Lala were the visitors best players with their football trickery and artistry troubling Heartland’s defence. Jigawa Golden Stars’ defender, Olanrewaju Abdulrahman was also rock solid in defence.
What does this mean?
Heartland have returned to winning ways for the first time in six games and have moved a step up to the 10th position with 38 points from 27 games while Jigawa Golden Stars slipped to the 16th position with 30 points from the same number of matches.
The Naze Millionaires will play another Oriental Derby against FC IfeanyiUbah next Sunday in Nnewi while Jigawa Golden Stars will be locked in a local derby with Kano Pillars in a match they cannot afford to lose.
STATS
Heartland
Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Chidera Eze , Chizoba Amaefule, Pascal Eze, Austine Opara, Kelechi Chimezie, Emeka Atuloma (Issah Lenkat, 82′), Chijioke Akuneto (Aputazie Ugochukwu, 74′), Chukwudi Nwaodu, Bright Onyedikachi (Chijioke Opara, 82′), Ogbonna Onuoha (Emmanuel Adachi, 74′)
Unused Substitutes
Chijioke Ejiogu, Uche Oguchi, Chibundu Amah, , Kingsley Maduforo, Akanimo Edinaobong
Goals: Chukwudi Nwaodu, 2′ & Emeka Atuloma, 26′
Yellow Card: Emmanuel Adachi, 88′ (Heartland FC)
Man of the Match: Chukwudi Nwaodu (Heartland FC)
Jigawa Golden Stars
Paul Godwin, Philip Clement, Hadi Ado Bala (Peter Dogara), Olanrewaju Abdulraham, Papa Idris, Ibrahim Umar, Richard Christoper, Muhammad Gidado, Samuel Stone (Andrew Ideko, 73′)), Abdullahi Musa Lala, Sa’idu Abdullahi (Olasunkanmi Quadri)
Unused Substitutes
Emmanuel Nwabufo, James Ajako, Kamal Gambo, Sa’adu Umar, Olamide Ogundele, Chinonso Thomas,
Goal: Samuel Stone 34′ (Jigawa Golden Stars)
Match Stats:
Heartland FC 2-1 Jigawa Golden Stars
Corner kicks: 7-5
Shots :12-5
Shots On Target: 7- 2
Shots Off Target: 5-3
Fouls: 14 – 17
Throw-ins: 29-21
Yellow cards : 1-0
Offside: 5- 3
