The Abia Warriors FC, on Sunday, thrashed visiting Heartland FC of Owerri in an oriental derby by a lone goal in the Match Day 5 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Chinerem Okike (Meme) put the home side ahead of the visitors in the eight minutes of the encounter at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

The goal seemed to have put Heartland under pressure in the pulsating first half, which saw both sides wasting their chances in front of goals.

Abia Warriors, on their part, left nothing to chance as they stoically defended the goal.

Both sides created more chances in the second half but failed to utilise them as they appeared to be playing under tension.

The win gave the Abia Warriors their needed maximum of three points.

In a post-match interview, the coach of Abia Warriors, Erasmus Onu, said they were lucky to get the three points but rued the chances missed by his team.

“The issue of misses is a difficult thing everywhere, but I know we will get it right by God’s grace.

“We are preparing for the next match, and we will take them one after the other,” he said.

The home side, which had won their three home matches and lost two previous away games, now stand at the fifth position on the table with nine points. 

(NAN)