2023 NWFL Match Day 4: Heartland, Confluence share spoils

Posted : 07 December 2023

Heartland Queens played out a frustrating goalless draw against visitors, Confluence Queens, in Wednesday's NWFL Premiership Match Day 4 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

Bookmakers tagged the matchup as a grudge match, and it turned out to be exactly that, as the visitors thwarted the efforts of the home team to beat them twice in a matter of months.

The Owerri landladies had the better of the two teams in the 2023 Federation Cup round of 32 clash in Asaba, which was the first-ever competitive game between the premier league sides.

At the opening whistle, the Confluence City side took the hunt for the first goal to the doorstep of the hosts, pushing and twisting their illustrious hosts into defending vital areas relentlessly.

Within minutes, the visitors had a series of throws, but the homers stood their ground, absorbing and rebuffing the threats posed by the visitors.

As the game progressed, the home side rediscovered their momentum and began to turn the screws in the right places, seeking the opening goal.

The goalkeepers on both ends did a yeoman's job to keep their sides in the game, ending the half on grudgingly even terms.

Nothing exceptional happened after the restart, with chances on goal scarce at both ends, although the hosts were more guilty of missed opportunities.

The quartet of Mary Lucky, Oluch Okwara, Onyinyechi Kalu, and substitute Oluchi Ofoegbu all had close calls that they failed to convert.

The Owerri mainstreams pulled out Faith Samson, Onyinyechi Kalu, and Oluchi Okwara, replacing them with the trio of Oluchi Ofoegbu, Chinwendu Orji, and Chinedu Chinaka in an attempt to break the deadlock, but it was to no avail.

A few other promising moves to break the stalemate were well-kept by the five-star performer in goal for the Lokoja-based side, Silva Echefu, as was the case with her counterpart in the Owerri mainstreams, Uchenna Chukwu, seeing the game out as a goalless draw.

The scoreless draw keeps the Owerri side in third place on the table on seven points, one point behind their challengers, Confluence Queens, and leaders, Nasarawa Amazons.

Heartland Queens will embark on a journey to face last season's nemesis, Naija Ratels, for the NWFL Premiership Match Day 5 clash in Abuja.

2023 NWFL Match Day 4: Heartland, Confluence share spoils

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