Obi Samson’s first half wonder strike at the Umuahia Township Stadium gave Abia Warriors a 1-0 victory over Heartland of Owerri in a week seven group “B” action of the on going Nigeria Professional Football League decided today.
The Owerri Landlords, who led the group before the match day seven games, visited Umuahia with the intention of ending their unenviable record of never defeating their oriental brothers in seven previous outings, and demonstrated their resolve by carrying the attack to their opponents and had two unsuccessful corner kicks in the first five minutes.
Abia Warriors then raised their game and duly got the opener through Obi Samson in the 25th minute as he controlled Shedrack Asiegbu’s lofted pass outside the 16-metre box and released a left footed screamer which goalkeeper, Oluwasegun Fatunwase could not handle.
Obi, who netted 10 times for the Warriors last season, scored for the second consecutive game after his equaliser led to the Warriors 2-1 away defeat of FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Nnewi last Sunday.
Abia Warriors led 1-0 going into the tunnel and when play resumed, the game became a ding dong affair as both coaches, Henry Makinwa of Abia Warriors and his Heartland counterpart, Mahmet Jayfun Turkmen effected the necessary substitutions but it was the Warriors from Umuahia who held on to record yet another victory over their neighbors.
Next for Abia Warriors is an away game against El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri, this Sunday while Heartland will host leaders, FC Ifeanyi Ubah same day in Okigwe.
