NPFL: Heartland FC suffers setback, lose controversially to Bayelsa Utd

By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri

The dream of Heartland FC of Owerri to move up on the table of the current season of the Nigeria National Premier Football League, NPFL, suffered a major setback Sunday following its defeat by Bayelsa United FC.

The Naze Millionaires lost 1-0 to the host team in a keenly contested soccer bout at the end of 90mins and added time of play.

The match played under a clement weather and peaceful atmosphere at the Bayelsa State Sports Complex on Sunday commenced with the two rivals’ show of enthusiasm to carry the day from the kick off at 3:03pm.

Barely 2 mins into the first half of the game, the energetic strikers of the visiting Owerri clubside, after a careful combination of passes, dislodged the defence of Bayelsa boys and Toby Iyanda got the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed by the centre referee as offside play.

The disallowed goal that would have placed the Naze Millionaires on an early lead however emboldened the host team who fought hysterically to hold down the visitors to a goalless draw in the first 45 mins of play.

In what appeared like a contrivance to frustrate Heartland FC, the referee severally picked attackers of the visiting offside on every move they made to approach the goal area of the home team.

Also in the 3rd and 4th minutes brave moves by Heartland attackers were caught short as offside just as the trend continued in the second half until Bayelsa FC scored about the 73rd minute.

Meanwhile, fans of Heartland FC have reacted to the outcome of the Sunday away match and categorically decried the perceived referees’ conspiracy against the Owerri clubside.

In a statement issued by the converner of Lovers of Heartland FC, Arch. Eze Okechukwu, the group lamented that a ‘good goal ‘ scored by Heartland player was disallowed as offside while an obvious offside goal by the Bayelsans was quickly approved by the referee.

The statement read, “Heartland’s effort to equalize was stopped by the referee using phantom offside calls sounding the whistle for little or no contact, Bayelsa striker took out Christian Molukwu minutes before the goal.

“He kicked him on his knee and femur but the Referee failed to caution the aggressor for a career threatening tackle , Afoloyan Peter was kicked in the head severally yet the culprits were not punished.”