Heartland 2-0 Tornadoes Match Report:Debutant Ogu’s double hands the Naze Millionaires first season’s win

Heartland FC have earned their first win of the season following their 2-0 home victory over Niger Tornadoes at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday in a Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday Five tie.

The Naze Millionaires had played four games with just a draw and three losses prior to the encounter but the youthful Owerri side scored twice, one in each half through Michael Ogu who netted on his debut for the club to end the unbeaten run of the Ikon Allah Boys since the season started.

Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke made two changes to the side that was beaten 1-0 in Ibadan two weekends ago by Shooting Stars with the introduction of Ikwu Ejike in place of ailing Olanrewaju Molade Ojo while Chukwuma Agor started from the bench for Ogu to have his grand debut for the team.

Usual suspects Goal keeper Ebuka Nwokoecha was between the goalposts while Benjamin Victor, Nnaemeka Christian Nkwo, Peters Afolayan and Christian Molokwu were in defence. Tobi Iyanda Ige continued his excellent run in midfield with Adoh Frank, and Udochukwu Anumudu Playing complementary roles in the midfield. Promise Anyanwu and Ogu completed the attack set up.

Shortly before the start of hostilities, the Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Imo Chapter, Cosmos Chukwuemeka presented Peters Afolayan with the Imo SWAN Heartland FC Player of Month for September, 2024 following his impressive individual and collective performance for the Naze Millionaires last month despite playing only two of the team’s four games in the month under review. He became the first winner of the award.

It was a balance game when it started but the visitors were the first to exert their authority in the game due to their more experienced players but the early forays were without telling threats. Heartland managed to vend off the danger on the few occasions the Ikon Allah Boys they entered the home team’s penalty area.

Heartland shot into the lead in the 20th minute after good work from Christian Molokwu whose timely pass to Chuks Adoh put him in a good position to cross the ball to Ogu who nodded the ball home at the second post. The goal threw the stadium into a frenzy with the fans showing their relief at the goal.

Tornadoes who were unbeaten before the tie and had even won both away games played thus far against Kwara United and Plateau United tried to level proceedings but they were either not coordinated in the attack or they met a brick wall in Afolayan led defence to penetrate through.

Heartland FC added a second goal in the 60th minute through the same player, Ogu who slid home past Tornadoes Goalie, Emmanuel Iwu following a pass from Tobi Iyanda Ige.

The game ended 2-0 in favour of Heartland FC who moved to four points from five games ahead of their long trip to Maiduguri as guests of El Kanemi Warriors this weekend.

Heartland FC Team List:

Ebuka Nwokoecha, Benjamin Victor, Ikwu Ejike, Nnaemeka Christian, Christian Molokwu, Peters Afolayan, Udochukwu Anumudu (Ikechukwu Mgbemena 57′), Adoh Chuks (Itebu James 57′), Tobi Iyanda, Michael Ogu (Surajudeen Lawal 90′), Promise Anyanwu (Chukwuma Agor 28′)

Unused Substitutes
Kelvin Ogunga, Chijioke Opara, Emmanuel Charles, Joshua Odo, Alex Joseph

Technical Manager: Emmanuel Amuneke

Yellow Cards: Ebuka Nwokoecha 68′

Goals: Michael Ogu 20′, 60′

Niger Tornadoes Team List

Emmanuel Iwu, Abba Khalid, Aliyu Goyi, Victor Okoro, Ahmed Family, Mohammed Husseini, Abdulrasheed Shehu (Olawale Ayodele 51′), Papa Daniel, Kufre Ebong, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Jonas Emmanuel

Substitutes:
Yusuf Mohammed, Godstime Joseph, Sunday Akinmoladun, Idris Saidu, Sabou Ibrahim, Ifeanyi Okoye, Moses Omoduomuke, Olawale Ayodele, Tasiu Lawal, Ibrahim Haruna

Heartland FC Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke Post Match Quotes

“I want to congratulate the team. Everyone put in much efforts to ensure we get to this stage. The league is a marathon and when you lose some games, you will be a little upset but we are focused on what we want to achieve. When you look at Heartland FC last season, a lot happened there and many players left.

“We are redirecting the course by having very young players that can serve for the future also. We all understand that when you are in a period of processing, it takes time for things to grow and work.

“I am happy for the players and for Imo people. We deserve this moment. We have played five games and have got four points. All we need to do now is to review ourselves and look at the area we need to continue to improve as a team knowing that in a team there will always be moment of mistakes. Those mistakes count a lot and we have to go back and learn from them. We are happy that we won. It will give us a lot of relief ahead of our game coming up against El Kanemi Warriors. It will give us more confident going into the game.

“We have to congratulate Michael Ogu for his brilliance and intelligence and also Molokwu that gave the pass. The experience of Ogu was also crucial and we are happy for him.”