NWFL: Heartland Queens’ rattle Naija Ratels FC in Owerri
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
Heartland Queens of Owerri Wednesday proved their superiority over the visiting Naina Ratels FC of Abuja by colourfully securing a deserved 2–0 win in a classic encounter that left the Owerri fans in joyful mood all through the game.
The match began exactly 4:01pm in the heat of a sunny day with Heartland Queens demonstrating an innate commitment to clinch the three points of the match day.
After losing some scoring chances in the opening of the encounter, the Owerri Landladies first goal arrived in the 24th minute following a penalty awarded the side as Faith Samson perfectly delivered the spot kick, to give her side an early 1–0 lead.
Reinforced by the first goal, Heartland Queens continued pressing their opponents courtesy of the exceptional interventions of Chinemere Opara and other strikers thereby causing several throw-ins and free kicks against the Naija Ratels area.
The unceasing pressure from the Landladies almost gave Emmanuella the opening score when she jammed space inside the penalty area, but a faulty final touch squandered the rare opportunity.
In a frantic and panicky effort to ward off the mounting pressure from the hosts, Naija Ratels defence fumbled forcing Ezinne Wokocha to attempt an urgent clearance to save her side from the rampaging Queens’ strikers.
Oluebube in the 34th minute pulled in the second goal after she leaped high above the defence of the Ratels to convert a brilliant cross with a powerful header to give the hostesses a comfortable 2-0 lead and the first half ended 2-0 in favour of Heartland Queens.
At the blast of the whistle for the second half, Ratels stormed the pitch with measured desperation to redeem the ugly first half but was marched by a determined Heartland Queens who remained focused and pursued the aspiration to increase the tally with utmost vigour.
Both sides made tactical substitutions as the second half progressed with a view to carrying the day or creating a balance but all efforts and calculations ended at the blast of the last whistle to mark the end of the game.
