IT was celebration galore in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state as Ibom Angels had a convincing win over Heartland Queens on match day 7, the last fixture to end the first stanza of the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL).
A brace scored in the 13th and 85th minutes by Emem Essein, a 32nd minute goal by Blessing Dabrinze and another strike in the 57th minute by Charity Reuben were more than enough to take the Owerri-based team to the cleaners. The high point of this game was the Cristiano Ronaldo-like strike from Emem Essein in the 85th minute that got the entire stadium agog with chants of her name and garnished with a standing clapping ovation by the fans at the Itam Sports Complex, Uyo on Wednesday 10 May, 2017.
Coach Ogbonda Whyte of Ibom Angels did not start with his traditional set of players as he opted to use a different set of players like Joy Enamino, Charity Reuben, Eunice Ezeani in his starting eleven team as newly promoted Heartland Queens manager, coach Moses Aduku relegated some of his key players like Ndidi Okeke, Onah Oluchi to the reserve bench.
The stadium was already filled to capacity before the kick-off as fans were still trooping into the stadium to watch the game as it commenced. From the blast of the whistle, Heartland Queens were struggling to settle into the game as Ibom Angels were on the offensive attack every time they had possession of the ball.
The trio of Charity Reuben, Blessing Dabrinze and Emem Essein of Ibom Angels were like a house on fire as their one-two touches, dribbles and sleek passes caught the Heartland Queens defenders running helplessly like confused kids. In the seventh minute, Ibom Angels’ Charity Reuben shrugged off a tackle on her by Heartland Queens’ Esther Oduele only for her right footed power strike to be saved by Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin.
The opening goal of the evening was scored by Ibom Angels’ Emem Essein who slid the ball into the back of the net with her left foot from Celine Ottah’s connecting pass off the right wing of play in the 13th minute.
The first real chance came in for the visitors in the 15th minute when Heartland Queens’ Glory Sunday beat Ibom Angels’ Ibe Abidemi with her quick feet but her ball was pushed too much forward to the waiting hands of Ibom Angels’ Lucky Andy.
Ibom Angels were clearly superior in terms of ball possession and attacking play as the visitors were pegged back in their own half for a greater part of the first half. Coach Moses Aduku of Heartland Queens was restless at the touch line as he was kicking the air and shouting to his girls to brace up.
In the 32nd minute, Ibom Angels’ Blessing Dabrinze pounced on a loose ball from a poor clearance by a Heartland defender to nick in her first goal of the day and the second goal for her team past Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin.
Four minutes later, Ibom Angels’ Charity Reuben who had been a menace against Heartland Queens missed a clear-cut chance as she lobbed over the ball over Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin, but the ball was inches off the goal post mouth.
Heartland Queens’ Eunice Ujunwa had her perfectly curled free kick punched away by Ibom Angels’ Lucky Andy in the 40th minute to keep the score line unchanged till the end of the first half.
Just a minute into the second half, Ibom Angels’ Blessing Dabrinze was denied a second goal when her ferocious shot from 25 yards hit the cross bar. Five minutes later, Emem Essein, who was the commander-in-chief in the attacking play had her goal-bound header saved by Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin.
Ibom Angels’ Charity Reuben was rewarded for her impressive displays in the 57th minute as her long range shot ended in the far right corner of the net as Heartland Queens’ MaryAnn Akin was clearly beaten.
Ibom Angels goalie, Lucky Andy was called up again to duty in the 60th minute as Eunice Ujunwa, who was clearly the outstanding player for the visitors had her goal-bound ball parried away. It was a one-sided game as Ibom Angels were in the driving seat of this encounter.
Ibom Angels’ Blessing Dabrinze outsmarted two players in front of her but her instant shot was smothered by Heartland Queens’ MaryAnn Akin in the 65th minute. Charity Reuben of Ibom Angels had a low shot blocked by Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin and a follow-up shot on the rebound by team mate, Emem Essein was saved yet again by the agile goalkeeper.
What was unarguably to be nominated the goal of the season in the ongoing 2016/2017 NWPL, a world-class master piece goal was scored in the 85th minute by Ibom Angels’ Emem Essein. With an individual solo run from outside the center circle of the pitch, she beat off two Heartland Queens players in a quick break, dribbled another player and immediately hammered a thunderous curly shot from 22 yards out that defiled the laws of motion to beat helpless Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin.
Blessing Dabrinze of Ibom Angels was issued a red card by the center referee in the 88th minute for intentionally pushing the Heartland goalie, MaryAnn Akin minutes after she made a save of her goal-bound ball. Ten-player Ibom Angels held on till the end of 90 minutes as Heartland Queens were unable to get a consolation goal.
Heartland Queens next opening game ahead of the kick off to the second stanza of the Nigerian Women Premier League (NWPL) is the return leg against Ibom Angels of Uyo.
MATCH STATISTICS:
IBOM ANGELS: Lucky Andy, Ibe Abidemi (Titus Happiness 73’), Glory Ogbonna, Uzor Favour, Ottah Celine, Igbinovia Osamudiame, Joy Enamino (Joan Etenkpa 46’), Eunice Ezeani (Uduakobong Peter 59’), Blessing Dabrinze. Charity Reuben and Emem Essein.
Substitutes not used: Fubiana Briggs, Edward Elizabeth, Ime John and Ukeme Uko.
Manager: Ogbonda Whyte
HEARTLAND QUEENS: MaryAnn Akin, Esther Oduele, Joy Odoemenam, Chinaza Opara (Ugobest Osuji 79’), Uzor Amaka, Ebere Okechukwu, Prudent Ugoh (Onah Oluchi 59’), Glory Sunday, Eunice Ujunwa, Ugochukwu Njoku and Ezinne Wokocha (Ndidi Okeke 41’).
Substitutes not used: Esther Agbere, Chidinma Anele, Chinasa Soroibe, and MaryAnn Anele
Manager: Moses Aduku
Yellow Card(s):
Ibom Angels: Nil
Heartland Queens: Prudent Ugoh (29’), Ugochukwu Njoku (79’) and Ugobest Osuji (90’)
Red Card(s):
Ibom Angels: Blessing Dabinze (88’)
Heartland Queens: Nil
Goal(s):
Ibom Angels: Emem Essein (13’ 85’), Blessing Dabrinze (32’) and Charity Reuben (57’)
Heartland Queens: Nil
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