NPFL: Heartland stun Enyimba in Aba

Stanley Dimgba missed a first half penalty as Enyimba Football Club lost 0-2 to Heartland Football Club at the Enyimba Stadium on Wednesday evening.
After a torrid start to the game, Enyimba appeared to have found the breakthrough in the 27th minute when Reuben Bala was tripped in the box for a penalty, but Dimgba’s kick was pushed away by Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who was making his first return to the Enyimba Stadium since his loan spell two years ago.
That proved to be the turning point of the game as the visitors broke from the right three minutes later, with Abubakar Sadiq dribbling past his marker to fire into Stanley Nwabali’s far post.
The hosts responded with a barrage of attacks – Victor Mbaoma coming close from range before Nelson Ogbonnaya’s header was cleared off the line.
But against the tide, the visitors insured their lead right before the break when loaned forward Chukwuemeka Obioma ran through the Enyimba backline to score against his parent club.
Fatai Osho introduced Martins Usule and Chukwuka Onuwa in the second half but indecisive finishing, coupled with a disciplined defensive performance by Heartland, meant the People’s Elephant were unable to get a breakthrough.
The result has left Enyimba with a tally of 15 points from their opening 11 matches of the season.
The People’s Elephant will be back in action this Sunday with a fixture against FC Ifeanyi Uba in Nnewi.