Heartland Queens’ conjurewoman, Mary Lucky predictably conjured the stunner in the 84th minute that messed up a creditable performance of Nasarawa Amazons’ goalkeeper, Shukurat Bakare to hand the homers well-deserved and hard-fought victory in Wednesday’s NWFL Premiership matchday 10 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
The encounter was almost heading to a stalemate when the nation’s U-20 sharpshooter and the most sought after lethal finisher pounced on a well laid cross from teammate, Chinedu Chinaka controlled the ball masterly with a decoy that fooled her marker before she unleashed a blinder and ferocious volley that made nonsense of the visitors’ well kept backline.
The match was rightly tagged a table top clash by bookmakers and it lived up to the billings in terms of creativity, competitiveness, qualities and skills
The contests were balanced and even the whole of the entire 45 minutes with almost a zero clear chance at goal except a sore miss in the half by on field captain, Chimebere Opara. The visitors sat deep into their half with occasional foray into the opponents’ vitals given the impression that they may after all be playing for a draw which will be just good to keep them at the top of the group’s log but the hosts had a different plan altogether which is to snatch a win to climb back to the top. That dreams were kept on late in coming as the first 45 minutes ended on a scoreless note.
The second term witnessed few moments of excitement, two occasions the Owerri mainstreams came close to scoring two times, too they allowed the opportunity to slip bye but they are not ready to let go finally.
The gaffer of the Owerri side, Obi Ogbala made two substitutions, pulled out the duo, Oluchi Ofoegbu and Emmanuella James for Chidinma Anaele and Yetunde Anyantosho to further put bites into the attack and their introductions appeared to be the real missing links as the spices were instant.
Workaholic and tormentor-in-chief, Lucky was everywhere urging on her teammates and that magic paid off as she was able to square a pass to make the impossible possible with what will go down in this season as the finest goal of the hours.
She got all the vicious knocks and in desperation to manage her mesmerising runs she was felled in the box in added minutes though the resultant spot kick was inexplicably kicked into the sky by defender, Chinyere Iheoma.
The Lafia side finished the game almost at stoppage time with a man short with the sending off of their player, Ayowumni Omosuyi for two bookable offences.
The hard-fought victory takes Heartland Queens back to the top of the eight-team group’s log on 18 points one behind the opponents and closest challengers, Nasarawa Amazons.
And it will be an Oriental derby next Wednesday as the Owerri landladies will welcome neighbours, Abia Angels in Owerri for the NWFL Premiership matchday 11 fixture clash.