NPFL Review: Heartland hold champions Enyimba
Nigerian champions Enyimba drew 1-1 with Heartland in Umuahia on Wednesday in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game to blow the chance of swimming out of the relegation zone.
The People’s Elephant began the day in 19th place on the 20-team table but a battling display in a cracking contest saw the Naze Millionaires claim a share of the spoils.
Heartland asked the early attacking questions with Julius Ubido and Nnaemeka Anyanwu coming close inside the opening 10 minutes.
Enyimba’s first chance arrived in the seventh minute with Nzube Anaezemba’s strike from inside the box flying wide following good work from Christian Pyagbara.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and Ifeanyi George fired a goal-bound effort from range which the Heartland goalkeeper, Phillip Acho, was happy to parry away for a corner.
Enyimba eventually got the breakthrough in the 27th minute through Peter Onyekachi after the Heartland goalkeeper's howler.
Onyeakachi proceeded to dribble past two Heartland defenders before smacking home from close range.
Stunned into action, the Naze Millionaires stormed forward and equalised through Ifeanyi Onuigbo who created space on the far side to head home a cross.
Onuigbo had overcome the setback of received a booking seconds earlier for simulation after going down in the Enyimba box.
Mfon Udoh was thrown into the fray to add urgency to the Enyimba attack but the visitors defended resolutely to claim a point.
Enyimba thus remain in 19th place on the NPFL standings with 13 points from nine matches.
In Akure, Sunshine Stars beat Nasarawa United 3-0 to continue their impressive run under new coach Solomon Ogbeide.
Okiki Afolabi converted a 34th-minute penalty to put the Owena Waves in front before Samad Kadiri made in 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Afolabi completed his brace in the 59th minute to complete a comprehensive win for the for the hosts.
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