Plateau United Football Club of Jos has strengthened their grip on top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table after hard fought two-one victory over neighbors , Nasarawa United of Lafia in a match day twenty four fixtures decided at the New Jos stadium, Sunday.
Amos Gyang scored Plateau United first goal when he blasted in a twenty eight minute penalty to give the Peace Boys the lead .
However, the Solid Miners responded twelve minutes late , when Nasarawa United top striker , Chinedu Ohanachom capitalized on a sloopy defending in the Plateau United defence to beat goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye and level scores to one-all going into the first half.
On resumption of the second half , the visitors resorted to resolute defending as they refuse to come and play, a situation which frustrated Plateau United goalbound moves as they defended in their Numbers.
As frustration grows, top striker Mustapha Ibrahim who in playing his second match for Plateau United after a three weeks absence due to a knee injury scored his ninth goal if the campaign when he blasted in with a superb header in the eighty seventh minute to ensure all three points for the Lalong boys.
Plateau United would have won the match with a wide margin had they converted the numerous begging chances that came their way in the match.
Abba Umar was the worse culprit as he ballooned more than three clear chances on goal in the first half as he failed to connect the chances that came his home .
Nasarawa United had their own fair chances on goal to add to their goals tally, as their was an obvious disconnect between the midfielders and the attackers who failed to link up when it mattered most.
The victory has now consolidated Plateau United leadership position on the league table with fourty six points from twenty four matches , four more than their closest challengers, Rivers United of Portharcourt.
Teams
Plateau United: Dele Ajiboye, Ibrahim Abubakar, Gabriel Wassa, Isah Ndala, Andrew Ikefe, Buhari Ibrahim, Amos Gyang (Uche Onwuasoanya 70′), Oche Ochowechi, Mustapha Ibrahim, Abba Umar (Tosin Omoyele 88′), Sunday Anthony
Substitutes not used: David Obiazo, Chizoba Amaefule, Bitrus Wash, Charles Henlong, Benjamin Turba
Cautions: Isah Ndala (32′), Mustapha Ibrahim (83′)
Nasarawa United: Danlami Umar, Ibrahim Matthew, Ebuka Anaekwe, Mayaki Idriss, Franklin Tebo, Moses Tsehuan, Anas Yusuf (Abubakar Lawal 66′), Victor Okoro, Haggai Katoh (Abdallah Mohammed 64′), Chinedu Ohanachom, Ikenna Offor
Substitutes not used: Galadima Mohammed, Bashiru Mansour, Abubakar Abdullahi, Dauda Maigishiri, Chidi Solomon
Cautions: Victor Okoro (28′), Chinedu Ohanachom (31′)
Match Stats
Plateau United 2-1 Nasarawa United
Corner 5-3
Fouls 5-12
Attempts 20-4
On target 9-1
Throws 18-14
Offside 3-5
Cautions 2-2
