Heartland FC of Owerri secured their first victory in the Nigeria Premier Football League, defeating Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin 1-0 in a closely contested encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, during Match Day 12 fixtures.
The decisive moment came in the 51st minute when Austin Osayande scored the lone goal of the match.
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Despite a slow start and struggling to keep pace with Bendel Insurance in the initial 15 minutes, Heartland FC managed to maintain defensive resilience, with goalkeeper Chisom Chiaha making crucial saves.
Chisom Okereke of Bendel Insurance had two notable chances in the 8th and 10th minutes, but the Naze Millionaires’ goalkeeper ensured a clean sheet.
Coach Monday Odigie, seeking an equalizer, made tactical changes, including bringing on Chukwudi Meze and Osaghae Jr, but Heartland FC remained resolute in defence.
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The home side’s determination paid off as they defended the 1-0 lead and secured their first victory of the season.
Coach Kennedy Boboye expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, highlighting their fighting spirit. He emphasized the need to work on goal-scoring proficiency to improve their overall standing in the league.
” Let me give kudos to my boys because they fought for it. We are happy and we will continue to work on goal scoring so that we can be sure of winning so that we can get out of where we are.”
In a post-match interview, Coach Monday Odigie attributed Bendel Insurance’s loss to a momentary lapse in concentration,” We lost concentration at that moment and we paid for it.” expressing confidence in the team’s ability to correct mistakes and improve goal-scoring opportunities.
Bendel Insurance will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixture against Sunshine Stars of Akure at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, on Saturday, December 9, 2023.
The clash promises to be a challenging encounter as both teams aim to secure crucial points in the ongoing NPFL season.
