Heartland FC defeated Monomotapa of Zimbabwe 3-1 on Sunday in a CAF Champions League Group B match played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, south east Nigeria.

The home win has got Heartland back into reckoning in the lucrative competition, after they fell 2-0 at TP Mazembe of DR Congo in their opening group match two weeks ago.

Group B is now a very open contest, as all four clubs have recorded three points from two games.

Heartland are joint leaders with Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel, who defeated Mazembe 2-1 in Sousse on Saturday.

Heartland went in front in the second minute when skipper ThankGod Ike powered home a header from a corner taken by new signing Osanga King.

Playing in front of a packed stadium, the Naze Millionaires doubled their advantage in the 26th minute when Uche Agba let fly from over 25 metres.

Ikechukwu Ibenegbu then made the game safe two minutes after the break when he went past four markers to net a superb individual goal.

However, a minute later the visitors reduced the margin through Daniel Kamunenga, who tapped home beyond goalkeeper Austin Brown after a cross caught the Heartland defence napping.

Skipper Ike and substitute Stanley Okoro shone for the home team, while the fans were really appreciative of the showing of the Zimbabweans in the second half, cheering all their moves. - Goal.com

By Staff reporter and agencies