At the Dan Ayiam Stadium Owerri, December 6th 2025. Heartland FC hosted Inter Lagos in a thrilling Nigerian Professional Football League clash.
Both teams were eager to claim victory, promising fans an exhilarating encounter.
From the very start of the game, Heartland FC asserted their dominance on home turf. Just 16 minutes into the game, the hosts were awarded a penalty after an Inter Lagos defender committed a foul inside the box.
Uche Akuwueze confidently converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and putting Heartland ahead 1-0.
Growing in confidence, Heartland continued to pressure their visitors. In the 41st minute, Joel Okoro delighted the stands with a dazzling display of footwork, weaving past defenders before delivering a precise and skillful cross into the box.
His pinpoint delivery found teammate Murphy Ndukwu who timed his run perfectly to slot home Heartland’s second goal, doubling the lead before halftime.
Determined not to be subdued, Inter Lagos returned from the break with renewed vigor and an aggressive mindset.
Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when they broke through Heartland’s defense to score their first goal, narrowing the deficit to 2-1 and reigniting hopes for a comeback.
However, Heartland proved resilient. In the 66th minute, Joel Okoro again rose to the occasion, this time finishing clinically to extend the lead to 3-1.
The game intensified as the final minutes approached. Inter Lagos pressed hard for another goal, and in the 88th minute, their efforts were rewarded when Heartland’s Uche Akuwueze was penalized for a handball inside the penalty area.
The visiting side calmly converted the resulting penalty, bringing the score to a nail biting 3-2.
Despite Inter Lagos’s late surge, Heartland FC held firm defensively, maintaining their slim lead until the final whistle.
The match ended 3-2 in favour of Heartland fc Owerri.
