Former Rangers goalkeeper Ebele Obi saved a first half penalty as Heartland forced their traditional rivals Enugu Rangers to a goalless draw in their last match of the first stanza of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
The game played under floodlights on Friday night was witnessed by an unprecedented crowd at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu but failed to produce a winner as the visitors, playing their third game in six days held on resolutely to claim a share of the spoils in the oldest derby in Nigeria's top flight.
Heartland went into the game on the back of two scoreless draws and made five changes to their starting set-up after a lacklustre stalemate with managerless Plateau United in midweek. The experienced duo of captain Chinedu Efugh and goalkeeper Ebele Obi were retained and both rolled back the years to give performances that Enugu fans used to cherish during their time in the colours of the Flying Antelopes.
Rangers who were unchanged from their last league outing - a routine victory over basement side Ikorodu United - almost took an early lead in the game but Obi produced a mercurial reflex save to deny Chisom Egbuchulam's flicked attempt from close range.
Obi was again on hand to deny the same player, Egbuchulam in the 25th minute when he turned his freekick from 20 yards behind for a corner. He would however complete his hattrick of game-saving saves against Egbuchulam shortly before half time when he denied the former Disdevt Afrik star from the penalty spot.
First half substitute Bobby Clement (who replaced injured left back Chidiebere Okolie) after the half-hour mark was hacked down inside the Heartland box by Togolese leftback Zoumana Doumbia but Egbuchulam's effort was well saved by Obi who is yet to concede a goal in three games after his return from a six-game ban.
Heartland continued to tighten the screws in their backline and almost got a goal against the run of play just before the hour mark. Full-back turned winger Isaac Loute's chipped cross found Bright Ejike but Rangers goalie Itodo Akor was quick off his line to deny the former Sharks attacker before he could get a shot in.
The Naze Millionaires did get the ball to the back of the net on 65 minutes but the assistant referee's flag was up before Brownbraye Okpus headed home a deflected Isaac Loute freekick.
All that remained were half chances for the hosts which failed to yield any fruitful result as both teams settled for a barren demonstration on a day both teams have three points provisionally deducted from their season's accumulation after Giwa FC were expelled from the league (pending appeal), a team both Rangers and Heartland had beaten this season.
Match details
RANGERS: 30. Itodo Akor 28. Donou Kokou 26. Chidiebere Okolie (Bobby Clement 33') 13. Christian Madu 5. Ousmane Pape Sane 15. Camara Aziz 6. Obinna Nwobodo 19. Godwin Aguda 11. Chisom Egbuchulam (Chimezie Amanfor 73') 35. Chinedu Udeagha 33. Tope Olusesi (Bitrus Dada 63')
Unused subs: 25. Nana Bonsu 18. Okey Odita 3. Bright Esieme 24. Agbo Charles
BOOKED: Pape Sane 26' Chineu Udeagha 64' Obinna Nwobodo 67'
HEARTLAND: 18. Ebele Obi 18 14. Brownbraye Okpus 4. Zoumana Doumbia 26. Julius Ubido 22. Nnaemeka Anyanwu 29. Chinedu Efugh 9. Emeka Ogbugh (Chidiebere Ajoku 56') 8. Bright Ejike 20. Ifeanyi Onuigbo (Fortune Omoniwari 72') 11. Marcmacel Obioha 23. Isaac Loute
Unused subs: 1. Phillip Acho 24. Nelson Ognonnaya 32. Anthony Oussou 15. Benedict Okotu 28. Uchenna Orisakwe
BOOKED: Julius Ubido 14' Ifeanyi Onuigbo 49' Bright Ejike 84' Ebele Obi 88'
Man of the Match: Ebele Obi (Rangers)
Attendance: 26,254