The Naze Millionaires pulled the chestnut out of the fire in a pulsating 4-goal thriller at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.
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Heartland’s first game back in the top flight was expected to go as planned, as fans thronged the Stadium to watch her darling Club put up a show to serenade the crowd who were thirsty for top-flight football entertainment.
The visiting team, however, silenced the buoyant crowd in the 16th minute, when Waheeb Adebayo’s scuffed shot inexplicably beat Chisom Chiaha in goal for Heartland.
Francis Odinaka exacerbated issues 22 later in the 38th minute.
Heartland’s joyous occasion was fast turning into a nightmare but the story took a dramatic twist, as Coach Christian Obi rang changes relieving Amoo Mumini, Tunde Oyewole, and Onyekachi Okafor.
In their place, Patrick Nwogbaga, Ezekiel Bassey, and Fabian Omaka came on to change the narrative.
The effect was instant as Heartland upped the ante in their quest to wrestle back control.
Patrick Nwogbaga led the comeback, as he grabbed a goal in the 81st minute to half the deficit.
Heartland increased the intensity as Fabian Omaka and Ezekiel Bassey turned the heat on the opposition.
7 minutes later in the 88th minute, Ezekiel Bassey applied the finish, restoring parity to the game as the Dan Anyiam Stadium erupted with joy.
The former Barcelona man finished off a sweeping move after a wonderful run from Fabian and Divine Ukadike.
The scoreline remained the same, as it ended 2-2 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.
Patrick Nwogbaga was named the Man of the Match for leading the revival of the Naze Millionaires in what was a pulsating encounter.
Reacting Coach Christian Obi hailed the fighting Spirit of the team while promising that the team would get better in subsequent games.
Commissioner for Sports Hon Emeka Okoronkwo praised the team for making a comeback while urging them to do more in order to reward the Government and her fans who have invested so much in them.
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The Commissioner for Sports alongside the Commissioner of Housing Lady Love Ineh and the Government delegation honoured Patrick Nwogbaga as the Man of the Match.
Lady Ineh urged the team to reciprocate Governor Uzodinma ‘s gesture by winning her games
Key Government functionaries also attended the game
Dignitaries such as Hon Nkechi Ugwu Commissioner for Women Affairs, Princess Rabbi Ibrahim Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
Commissioner for Housing Lady Love Ineh
Ikenna Ahikaibe Special Adviser on Sports
ISIEC Chairman Hon Charles Ejiogu
And ISIEC Commissioner Chief Charles Ohiri.
Heartland will travel to Jos next weekend to engage Plateau United
