Enyimba, Heartland end oriental derby clash in stalemate

Enyimba were, on Wednesday, held to a goalless draw by Heartland at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar. 

The People's Elephant had the better of the first Oriental Derby of the season, but failed to make their dominance on the stats sheet reflect on the score sheet. Fifteen shots by the two-time African champions, of which 10 were on target, told a tale of numerous missed chances and a goalkeeping masterclass by Heartland's Ebele Obi.

Technical Adviser Paul Aigbogun made two changes to the starting line-up which earned a draw at the weekend in Makurdi, bringing in Andrew Abalogu and Maxwell Effiom with a view to producing greeter attacking impetus.

As a ploy, it was certainly successful, as Enyimba eked out chances time and again, but labored fruitlessly to turn the chances into goals.

Chinedu Udeagha and Wasiu Alalade both had efforts from distance inside the opening quarter of an hour, but it was in the 20th minute that Stanley Dimgba's curling effort signaled the start of one-way traffic.

Effiom then found himself presented with a gilt-edged chance after Stephen Chukwude's shot came back off the upright. He however contrived to hit the prone Obi, rather than the back of the net, from a few metres out.

Obi was on hand to deny Udeagha from distance, but not only was the Heartland goalie pulling off acrobatics, but his goal seemed to be living a charmed life. Dimgba was next to make a meal of a presentable chance, fluffing his lines when he found himself unmarked in front of goal from Chukwude's header.

Both Alalade and Chukwude missed further gilt-edged chances, but perhaps the greatest indication it was not be Enyimba's day came with six minutes ago.

Chinonso Okonkwo showed good strength and cut the ball back for Freedom Omofoman. The winger's shot was spilled by Obi at the feet of Alalade bare centimeters out, but somehow the goalkeeper managed to divert the follow-up around the post.

The result, a second draw in succession, tallies up to two points from a possible six. Enyimba will look to make amends when they face Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina, on Sunday.

FINAL: Enyimba 0-0 Heartland

ENYIMBA STARTING LINE-UP: Fatau Dauda, Andrew Abalogu, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Isiaka Oladuntoye, Benjamin Francis, Maxwell Effiom (Franco Atchou 47'), Farouk Mohammed, Chinedu Udeagha (Chinonso Okonkwo 66'), Stanley Dimgba (Freedom Omofoman 76'), Wasiu Alalade, Stephen Chukwude.

UNUSED SUBS: Friday Achimugwu, Ernest Governor, Yinka Onaolapo, Leonard Ugochukwu.

HEARTLAND STARTING XI: Ebele Obi, Onyebuchi Onyechefula, Chukwudi Oparaugo, Julius Ubido, Kenneth Ikwugbado, Ismail Jimoh, Fuad Ekelojuoti (Francis Momoh 79'), Abiodun Thompson (Okoro Ndukwe 8'), Lucky Emeriojake, Nnamdi Egbujor, Kingsley Salami (Odera Onyiri 83')

UNUSED SUBS: Japhet Utobo, Kingsley Anunobi, Uche Odeh, John Chukwudi

YELLOW CARDS: Benjamin Francis 42' (ENY); Fuad Ekelojuoti 75', Francis Momoh 90+2' (HEA