Kano Pillars 2-2 Heartland FC: Lawal brilliant brace forces Sai Masu Gida to draw in Kano

Heartland FC extended their unbeaten run to four games in far away Kano after they held Kano Pillars to a 2-2 draw in front of capacity crowd at the Sani Abacha Stadium in one of the Matchday 12 of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The Naze Millionaires’ Surajudeen Lawal scored twice in the second half but Sai Masu Gida rallied back on both occasions to level the scores through Rabiu Ali’s delectable free kick and Ahmed Musa’s header.

It was a game of two halves with Kano Pillars dominating the game in the first half while Heartland FC came out smoking in the second half.

Heartland FC had Goalkeeper, Ebuka Nwokoecha to thank for keeping the game at goalless at the end of the first half. He made two world class saves to deny Sai Masu Gida from scoring first in the game.

The first chance came in the 10th minute when Ahmed Musa was given room to operate from the flank closed to Heartland FC penalty area and he let fly a cross which struck the goal post but Goalkeeper, Ebuka Nwokoecha was able to gather it at the second attempt after a shield from Peters Afolayan.

Kano Pillars had another chance four minutes later through Ibrahim Inuwa who dribbled his marker for force his way into the visitors’ box but his shot hit the goalpost and return to him before it was scampered to safety for a corner kick.

Not done, Mustapha Umar’s powerful shot from the edge of penalty area produced a magnificent save from the Naze Millionaires Goalkeeper, Nwokoecha.

After a goalless opening half filled with tactical battles and near misses, the game burst into life in the second period. Suraju Lawal put Heartland ahead in the 51st minute with a sharp curling finish, silencing the raucous home support. But the joy for the Naze Millionaires was short lived, as Kano Pillars’ evergreen talisman, Rabiu Ali, restored parity six minutes later with a sublime free-kick that rolled back the years.

Barely two minutes after the equalizer, Lawal struck again, showcasing his poacher’s instincts to notch his brace and restore Heartland’s advantage. He nodded the ball beyond the reach of Kano Pillars Goalie, Idris Ibrahim off Christian Nkwo’s throw in. As the visitors celebrated, it seemed like the encounter might slip from Pillars’ grasp.

Kano Pillars still came back into the game through their talisman, Ahmed Musa who nodded home from close range in the 75th minute.

The final quarter of an hour saw both sides push for a winner, but resolute defending and moments of brilliance from the goalkeepers ensured the spoils were shared.

For Heartland, coached by the 1994 CAF Player of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke, the performance further underscored their resurgence this season. The Naze Millionaires now turn their attention to an enticing oriental derby, where they’ll host defending champions Enugu Rangers in Owerri on Saturday.

For Kano Pillars, the result may not have been the perfect homecoming, but the passion on display and the atmosphere in the stands confirmed one thing: football is well and truly alive in Kano.

Kano Pillars Team List:

Idris Ibrahim, Mustapha Jubrin, Fahad Usman, Habibu Yakubu, Ibrahim Inuwa, Shehu Abdullahi, Aminu Sani Adam, Rabiu Ali, Ahmed Musa, Mustapha Umar, Mohammed Zulkifilu

Substitutes:

Okeke Destiny Muchi, Mubarak Lawan, Nelson Abiam, Imrana Ahmed, Yusuf Maigoro, Umar Sani Yakassai, Auwalu Ali Malam, Mustapha Salisu Musa

Head Coach: Usman Abd’Allah

Yellow card: Mustapha Umar

Goals: Rabiu Ali 57′, Ahmed Musa 75′

Heartland FC Team List

Ebuka Nwokoecha, Benjamin Victor, Ikwu Ejike, Christian Nkwo, Christian Molokwu, Peters Afolayan, Chukwuma Agor (Chuks Adoh, 70′), Suraju Lawal, Michael Ogu (Promise Anyanwu, 70′), Elvis Ori (Olanrewaju Molade, 90′), Tobi Iyanda

Unused Substitutes

Chisom Chiaha, Odo Joshua, Charles Emmanuel, Wisdom Samuel, Ikechukwu Mgbemena, Itebu James

Technical Manager: Emmanuel Amuneke

Goals: Surajudeen Lawal 51′, 59′

Yellow cards: Elvis Ori, Ebuka Nwokoecha, Chukwuma Agor