It was a classic NWFL turnaround at the Heartland Queens home ground in Owerri as the Owerri Landladies overturned an early deficit to defeat Nigeria Women Football League champions Bayelsa Queens 3-1 in a Matchday 8 encounter.
The visitors struck first in just the 2nd minute, when Alaba Olabiyi capitalized on a defensive lapse to send Bayelsa Queens ahead and silence the home supporters. But Heartland Queens responded in the 28th minute, Oluebube Umejiaku produced a composed finish to level the scores, rallying the Owerri Landladies faithful to end the first half 1-1.
From the blast of the whistle in the second half, Bayelsa Queens launched attack on their opponent, but it was the host that scored a second goal in the 60th minute, when Victory Odanlumen put Heartland Queens ahead with a well worked strike.
Building on their momentum, they extended the lead and put the game beyond the reach of the Prosperity Girls with a 3rd goal through Oluebube Umejiaku for her brace in the 75th minute, taking a commanding 3-1 advantage to end the encounter.
Bayelsa Queens technical adviser, Whyte Ogbonda, admitted that his team lost to a better side following the 3-1 defeat to Heartland Queens.
“This is our first defeat, we came into the game with our plan, but the Owerri Landladies scuttled our game plan with their style of play not letting us play our game”, Coach Whyte said.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Whyte described the experience as a valuable learning curve for his squad.
“We’re going to be stronger, better prepared—mentally and physically for the remainder of the season,” he added.
