Lobi Stars put themselves in a vantage position in the race for survival on Sunday after defeating Heartland 2-1 in a relegation six-pointer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
The Makurdi club began the first half like a house on fire as they threw men forward in search of an early goal.
Olamilekan Adams got the better of his marker Okon Samuel but the defender misjudged his tackle in the box and gifted the home side a penalty in the 5th minute.
The Referee from Sokoto conjured a voodoo penalty in the 7th minute but Chijioke Ejiogu saved it. Minutes later Ejiogu went to parry a cross but a Lobi Player viciously elbowed him in the air and as if that was not enough, he stamped Ejiogu on the Knee while landing but the Referee turned a blind eye.
As Ejiogu was screaming in pain Heartland Masseur and Nurse alongside the Chief Coach dashed to help him when the Referee called for medical attention.
On getting onto the pitch, the referee red-carded the nurse for leaving the Heartland without medical personnel. Heartland fought gallantly to see the first half off.
The referee gave 8minutes of additional time in the first half but that did not deter the lads.
The introduction of Chijioke Mbaoma and Alfred Alexander helped them battle Lobi for the extra 8 minutes.
The second period had the Referee awarding another voodoo penalty in the 54th minute which was converted by Imenger.
Heartland soldiered on and in the 66th minute after a lovely interplay of passes between Alexander Alfred and Ebuka Okoro, Murphy Ndukwu got on the end of Ebuka Okoro’s cross to restore parity to the scoreline.
The Hosts turned the heat on Heartland with waves of relentless pressure but Heartland stood firm.
Ebuka Okoro will get a yellow card for dissent but the Referee quickly issued a red card 30 seconds after dishing out a yellow card.
The Referee in his wisdom allowed the game for 120 minutes . Lobi scored the 117th minute., even when Mumaba collapsed on the pitch, the game didn’t last till eternity.
The robbery at Lobi is a locus in the history of daylight robberies in the Nigerian top flight. It marks an all-time low and reminds us of the rot in the league.
