Sports
NPFL: Heartland FC’s Goalkeeper Equals Penalty Record
Heartland’s goalkeeper, Femi Thomas becomes the first man to save two penalties in a single Nigeria Professional Football League match, since 2017.
The former Rangers International shot-stopper saved two penalties in two minutes in match day 12 encounter against the defending Champions at the Nest of Champions in Uyo last Sunday.
Thomas stopped the first penalty taken by Akwa United’s captain, Friday Ubong in the 19th minute.
The experienced goalkeeper proved his first save was not a fluke as he kept out the second penalty awarded to the current champions five minutes later. Friday Ubong was his victim again.
His heroic displays helped the Naze Millionaires earn a point against the Promise Keepers as the game ended without a goal.
Thomas only became the first goalkeeper to save two penalty kicks (192 & 252 ) in an NPFL match since March 2017. The first goalkeeper to achieve the feat is Ojo Olorunleke when he saved 2 penalty kicks (42 & 672 ) for Sunshine Stars against Niger Tornadoes back in 2017.