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God has turned my cry to joy Adachi, Heartland of Owerri leading scorer
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By Jacob Ajom
Emmanuel Adachi has four goals to his credit so far this season. He is Heartland of Owerri leading scorer in the current 2020/2021 NPFL season so far. Adachi says he’s enjoying a new lease of his career following a missed opportunity to play in Europe.
Adachi had sojourned to Switzerland for trials with Grasshopper FC but ended up being signed by a second-tier league side, FC Kornis.
But Adachi could not kick a ball for the club as he was told to return to Nigeria as the official transfer process was yet to commence.
It is also their first win in the NPFL since February 2020 thus ending a run of 15 winless matches.
Substitute Stanley Nnanna broke the deadlock in Gombe in the 78th minute after tapping home from a close range with an assist from Sadiq Lawan.
It was a disappointing result for Lobi Stars who have only won only one match in the month of February and sought to end the month with a victory against the whipping boys of the league.
Though Adamawa United remain bottom of the table, they have now moved to within seven points of safety on 6 points while Lobi dropped down to 10th position on 16 points.
Heartland showed their intent to win against Lobi Stars early in the match when Bright Onyedikachi’s attempt in the 10th minute came off the crossbar before it was hurriedly cleared out by the visitors.
Ten minutes later, Heartland had another glorious opportunity to go in front but Emmanuel Adachi instead skied his attempt over the cross bar.
Mustapha Aliko in goal for Lobi Stars was forced to make two impressive saves in quick succession before he was booked in the 25th minute for time wasting.
Heartland continued to pile pressure on Lobi Stars defence and the resulting free kick in one of such dangerous incursions was expertly converted by Chidera Eze in the 38th minute for the opener.
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu left Agege Stadium yesterday a satisfied man after picking all three points at stake in the Match day 9 fixture of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) between host MFM FC and Heartland FC.
Ilechukwu led the Naze Millionaires from Owerri to come snatch all three points at stake against MFM FC, the church team where he made his name as a top coach in the country.
Heartland set the ball rolling with Emmanuel Adachi drawing the first blood barely eight minutes into the game from the spot.
However, Olumuyiwa Lawal did not allow the visitors to enjoy the luxury of being in front for long as he leveled scores three minutes after the first half break.
Rivers United failed to take a chance to return to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table after losing 2-1 to Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on matchday 8.
The Pride of Rivers, looking for their second away of the season, travelled to Katsina with high hopes of consolidating on their last league win over Adamawa United in Port Harcourt and get a result that will restore their lead in the league.
Katsina United had a difficult time in Aba on matchday 7, losing 1-0 to Enyimba and didn’t want back-to-back defeats in the league and that made the encounter with Rivers United a feisty one.