Kwara United Football Club showcased resilience and tactical prowess today as they orchestrated a remarkable comeback, defeating Plateau United 2-1 in a thrilling Matchday 15 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the Main Bowl of the State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
In a match filled with high stakes and technical intricacies, Plateau United took an early lead in the 20th minute when Albert Hilary delivered a stunning 35-yard free kick.
The away side displayed coordinated and positional play, but their early momentum suffered a blow with the injury to defensive stalwart Mohammed Umar, who was replaced by Charles Henlong.
The situation worsened for Plateau United as Adams Yakubu received a red card in the 34th minute after a second yellow card.
Despite the numerical advantage, Kwara United struggled to convert opportunities in the first half, and the tension escalated as the home team failed to level the score.
The second half saw a transformed Kwara United side, with the introduction of Godwin Oshagbemi, Sadeeq Yusuf, and Abubakar Garba.
Kwara United’s Kabir Balogun ignited the comeback with a well-taken 25-yard free kick in the 72nd minute, catching Plateau United’s goalkeeper Bamidele Adeniyi off guard.
The turning point came when Sadeeq Yusuf scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute, securing the three points for Kwara United.
However, Yusuf’s exuberant celebration, including removing his shirt, led to a second yellow card and a subsequent red card.
In his post-match reactions, Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo expressed joy at the hard-fought victory. He dedicated the win to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the passionate fans.
Commending the players for their sacrifice and resilience, Coach Dogo pledged continued hard work to achieve further success for Kwara United in the ongoing NPFL season.
