NWFL: Heartland Queens record first win, trounce Confluence Queens 3-0
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
Heartland Queens FC of Owerri on Wednesday defeated the Confluence Queens FC of Kogi State 3-0 to clinch the MatchDay 7 three points, which was the last match in first stanza of the 2024 NWFL Premier League.
The Owerri Landladies crushed their visiting rivals in the crucial encounter played, in a cool afternoon, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri to record the teams first win in the ongoing tournament.
Heartland Queens commenced the game in high spirit and avowed determination to break the jinx of serial losses and draws wasted no time in stamping their authority on the game by scoring their first goal in the 56th seconds, after kickoff, through Faith Samson.
Emerging from the euphoria of the kickoff, imposing Samson Faith, jumped over a Confluence Queens defender marking her to nod the opening goal into the net to the amazement of the home fans.
Apparently emboldened by the early lead, Heartland Queens intensified pressure on the opponents with heated attacks which eventually paid off in the 10th minute when skipper Chimebere Opara doubled the scores.
Opara’s goal which came as an atonement for a scoring chance missed earlier, showed her experience and great composure to rifle home a killer finish that doubled Heartland’s advantage.
For the first half, the hosts were in full control, despite relentless attempts by Confluence Queens to regroup and launch a reprisal just as the visitors responded with two tactical substitutions to tighten up their defence in order to withstand Heartland’s relentless onslaught until the first half ended.
In response to the changing tone of the game, Coach Obi Ogbala made substitutions that reignited Heartland’s attack, with the introduction of Monica Matthew for Johnson Chizoba, alongside Emmanuel James for Tosin Ogundeko.
With the additional replacement of Onyinyechi Kalu and Kelechi Orji with Anyantosho Yetunde and Ekeke Faith who came in to further fortify and strengthen the Owerri side, came the third goal in the 71st minute.
Monica Matthew, through a superb header netted the goal that nailed the defeat of the visitors when she soared highest to meet a precise free-kick delivery by the Heartland skipper, Chimebere Opara.
Following the midweek victory, Heartland Queens now has five(5) points, and 6th on the league table, while Confluence Queens still remain at the bottom with no points.
Speaking to newsmen after the match, Coach Obi Ogala, beaming with smiles, attributed the victory to determination, resilience and strategic planning and assured of more victories in the second stanza of the NWFL.
