Defending champions, Enyimba have earned their first win over a Heartland FC since June 2015 in the match day 10 of the 2023/24 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Enyimba had defeated a winless Heartland 1-0 in the Oriental Derby yesterday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri to move to the fifth position on the table with a crucial outstanding game against Remo Stars in Aba on Wednesday.
‘Naze Millionaires’ as Heartland are known remain the only team in the NPFL to win a league with newly appointed coach, Kennedy Boboye unable to end the losing streak in his first match.
The ‘Elephants’ as Enyimba are also known started the game brightly with Chijioke Mbaoma making several attempts to score in a feisty derby. However, Enyimba were unable to score despite the chances as the first half ended goalless.
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At the resumption of hostilities in the second half, Enyimba increased their tempo but yet to failed to score. With the game looking to end goalless, coach Finidi George made some tactical changes which immediately paid off.
Stephen Chukwude who had come in for Mbaoma in the 78th minute scored the only goal with his first touch of the game to condemn Heartland to their fourth loss of the season and remain rooted in the 20th spot on the table.In the second game of the day, surprise table toppers, Doma United were held to a 0-0 draw by Remo Stars in Ikenne.
This game saw Doma keeper, Osayi Kingdom keeping a clean sheet in six consecutive NPFL games as he helped the Tigers earn a point on Ikenne. The hosts had put in everything in their arsenal to get the maximum points but for Osayi who kept them at bay with some decent saves.
Doma remain top of the table with 18 points from 10 games while Remo Stars remain fourth with 16 points from nine games.
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