It was an extremely bad day for Lobi Stars as they helplessly lost 2-0 to an undeserving Heartland Football Club Owerri in an NPFL Match Day 24 in Okigwe, Imo State.
The match which by my own reckoning underscore the rating of a premier league game in all honesty kicked off by 4:06 PM about 6 minutes later than official kick off time off the foot of Lobi Stars Chinonso Okonkwo after observing a minute silence in honor of Nasarawa United Chineme Martins who passed on during a Match Day 23 fixture against Katsina United and looked promising.
The performance of both teams kept falling as the match progressed. John Lazarus received a pass from returnee Cote D’ Ivorien Kone Yaya in the 4th minute, blast a surprise but went straight in to the waiting hands of Heartland Goalkeeper Chijioke Ejiogu.
In the 11th minute, Kone Yaya was brought down by a Heartland defending player, a free kick was taken by same Kone, this time in to the shaky hands of Chijioke but his quick recovery saved the goal.
13 minutes extent of play, Douglas Achiv received a harmless yellow card for unsporting behaviour. One minute later Kone received a pass from Alex Aghahowa and was racing down the Heartland goal with dribble runs but was brought down, the resultant free kick went off target.
A 20th Minute applause was also observed still in honor of Chineme Martins who died putting on Jersey Number 20 for Nasarawa United.
In the 30th minute Carlos Geleye collected a pass from Ebube Duru and took a similarity of what gave Lobi Stars the opening goal of Match Day 23 but missed narrowly.
A 42nd minute free kick on the far left to Heartland was started with a short pass extended to the middle of Lobi Stars post and further extended to the left to Pascal Eze whose goal bound shot was deflected by Lobi Stars Desmond Agbe in to the net for Heartland’s goal no 1.
Shortly after the restart at exactly 45+1, the CR Umuagu Paul from Delta who was indisputably fair through out the duration of the game in his officiating sounded his whistle for Half Time. Half time score, Heartland 1-0 Lobi Stars.
At halftime, some supporters of Heartland went to prevent the General Coordinator of Lobi Stars Mr Sam Aindigh from accessing the dressing room of his Team, an act that led to the match official getting back to the field of play while the half time lasted. It took serious intervention of security men to stop the violent act before Sam Aindigh and The Referee’s gain entrance to the dressing room.
Upon resumption, Chinonso Okonkwo who was the only player of Lobi Stars with threatening incursions struck twice at goal from outside the penalty area on the left hand side of the field 53 and 55 minutes respectively.
63 minutes, Gwaza Iorliam took over from injured Desmond Agbe.
Heartland launched an attack from a goal goal kick in the 68 minute, after John Lazarus mis-step and the ball went over the goal line as Heartland restarted quickly, launched a quick attack, the player fell inside the penalty area, a penalty call distracted the goal keeper and a far shot taken by Heartland Obioma Chukwuemeka in the middle of the call beat goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel of Lobi Stars for the second goal for Heartland at the dot of 69 minutes.
76 minutes Abdulwasiu Mahmud took over from Kone Yaya. 83 minutes, Heartland second goal scorer Obioma Chukwuemeka gave way for Sanusi Kabiru.
The biggest and surest opportunity for Lobi Stars to reduce one goal came when Chinonso Okonkwo placed a tailor made pass for Chinedu Udeagha with only goalkeeper Chijioke to beat but kick against him.
Governor Ernest received a yellow card in the 89 minutes as Carlos Galeya was giving way for Ahamefuna Christian.
90+2, Referee call for end of proceedings to the jubilation of Heartland fans who had expected a much more spectacular Lobi Stars. Despite the lack lustre performance of the two teams, Heartland ended up with an undeserved 2-0 victory.
Though Lobi Stars still maintain their 3rd position despite the loss but the gap in between the top contenders in deepening.
Lobi Stars have a task at hand to go home and win convincingly against FC Ifeanyi Ubah in a mid-week cracker to improve on their standing on the log.
