Rivers United 3-1 Heartland: The Pride of Rivers beat Naze Millionaires

The Naze Millionaires were second best in their encounter with their host in Port Harcourt and have now lost two consecutive games in the ongoing season.

Heartland FC were beaten 3-1 by host Rivers United on Saturday in Port Harcourt in one the Matchday Two games of the ongoing 2024-25 Nigeria Premier Football League season played at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The home team scored first in the third minute of the game through Taofeek Olaniyi header from a corner kick following a miscommunication in the defence of the visitors but Heartland FC equalised in the dying moments of the first half through Christian Molokwu who nodded the ball off the hands of Rivers United’s Goalkeeper Osagie Onisodunmeya from Chijioke Opara’s long throw in.

Rivers United scored twice in the second half through substitute, Kabir Abdullahi to make it a second consecutive defeat to the Owerri side whose game improved slightly to the insipid home performance against Enyimba in the opening weekend of the season.

In the game against the Pride of Rivers, the Naze Millionaires made six changes to the start team that fell to Enyimba in Owerri, Chisom Chiaha, Alex Godwin, Chinedu Ozor, Chukwuka Agoha, Suraju Lawal and injured Wisdom Samuel all have way to Ebuka Nwokoecha, Nnaemeka Christian Nkwo, Christian Molokwu, Benjamin Victor, Chukwudi Agor, and last season highest scorer, Chijioke Mbaoma who completed his switch before the tie to make his second debut in Heartland FC colours.

Despite starting the game at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt the Owerri side were nervy and found it difficult to string passes together in the opening exchanges. This gave the home team the early advantage and they scored in their first real attack from a corner kick. Rivers United took a short corner kick and launched a cross into Heartland’s vital area for an unmarked Taofeek Olaniyi to nod the ball beyond the reach of Goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokoecha with his defenders caught ball watching.

Rivers United piled up more pressure on the visiting team but Goalie, Nwokoecha saved his side’s blushes with string of impressive saves. This urged his side on and they got the equaliser through Christian Molokwu’s header from skipper for the game Chijioke Opara’s long throw in.

The home team had two decent chances to go into the lead before half time but Nwokoecha was up to the task again pushing two closely headed ball out for a corner kick almost in quick succession. It was 1-1 at half time.

Rivers United came back more forcefully in the second half and were rewarded with two more goals through substitute Kabir Abdullahi whose low shot was pushed into the net by Nwokoecha midway into the second half while the same attacker scored late on from a free kick close to Heartland’s 18 yard box.

Heartland FC will now return home to prepare for the game with Katsina United next weekend with firm focus on winning the first game of the season.