NPFL: Jonathan Alukwu’s late goal secures 1-1 draw for Sporting Lagos against Heartland
NPFL: Jonathan Alukwu’s late goal secures 1-1 draw for Sporting Lagos against Heartland
Jonathan Alukwu, a former Heartland player, has been in fine form for Sporting Lagos this season, scoring four goals in the last five games.
Sporting Lagos electric forward, Jonathan Alukwu scored an additional time winner to secure a point for his side at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Soccernet.ng reports.
Coach Paul Offor started his famous attacking duo, the Lokosa-Alukwu combination, who have proven to be hitmen at home in the league.
The noisy Lagosians lost to Lobi Stars in Nassarawa last week and were keen to make amends and set things right at home, and nearly opened the scoring six minutes into the game.
Heartland on the other hand are the only team without a win in the NPFL this season, drawing five games and losing three, before the game, and were in desperate need of a win to leave the 20th spot on the table.
Jonathan Alukwu’s effort six minutes into the game was thwarted by the opposition goalkeeper, Chisom Chiaha, and four minutes later, Jonathan came close again but simply failed to hit the target.
The 20-year-old continued to torment the Heartland defence in the second half as his through ball found Lokosa in space, but the Super Eagles forward’s attempt hit the cross-bar.
With fifteen minutes to go, miscommunication amongst the Sporting defence caused Chisom Orji to turn the ball into his own net from a throw-in, leaving the hosts with a ton of work to do if they’d salvage anything from the game.
The referee added ten additional minutes to the ninety already played, and Sporting continued to put pressure on the Heartland defence.
A corner from the hosts wasn’t properly dealt with by the opposition defence, and the ball fell kindly to Alukwu, who wasted no time in slotting it home, with just one minute left on the clock.
2 points dropped at home, not the result we needed.
FT’| Sporting Lagos🔵|1-1| Heartland FC🔴#NPFL24 #SundayWithSporting pic.twitter.com/SqLzMje0oZ
— Sporting Lagos (@SportingLagos) November 19, 2023
Two points dropped at home for Sporting now leaves them with twelve points from the opening nine league games, five behind league leaders, Doma United.