Heartland Queens piped hard fighting 2022 Aiteo Cup round of 32 opponents, Sunshine Queens 1-0 on Sunday at the main bowl of Warri Township Stadium.
A first-half brilliant finish by the side’s strong-built attacker, Lucky Mary proved adequate to knock out the Akure side from this year’s Aiteo Cup and subsequently propelled for the first time the Owerri landladies to the round of 16 of the nation’s oldest and glamorous football showpiece.
The Owerri side will square up against the Championship side, Dannaz Ladies, a team they defeated 2-1 in the 2021/2022 NWFL Championship promotion playoff in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, in the round of 16 clashes.
The Lagos side outscored their opposite from Bayelsa state, Crystal Stars 2-1 in the round of 32 clash in UNEC, Enugu.
Aside the sheer brilliance of steadily rising bullish striker, Lucky Mary who effortlessly tapped in an assist from attacking midfield maestro, Ugobest Osuji beyond the reach of the onrushing goalkeeper of the Akure side, Heartland Queens have their goalkeeper fantastic, Uchechi Onyechere to thank for her heroism by stopping a penalty in the run of play and standing against the forays of attack mounted by the opponents, Sunshine Queens.
Recall that Heartland Queens were stopped in the round of 32 by Delta Queens in the immediate past edition played at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Benue State.
