Eche Amos, Media Officer, Nasarawa United FC
It has always been a case of which team is superior whenever Nasarawa United squares up against Plateau United in one of the fiercest local derbies in Nigerian football.
Shortly before kick-off, a minute of silence was observed for the Late Philip Tatari Shekwo, the Nasarawa State All Progressives Congress (APC)chairman who was abducted and later gruesomely murdered at his house in Lafia by yet-to-be-identified assailants two days ago
And three minutes into the game, Plateau United took the lead after ex El-Kanemi Warriors star, Sunday Anthony, pounced onto a loose ball to glide the ball home, leaving Mohammed Galadima in a no-man’s land.
Nasarawa United responded ten minutes later as Adamu Hassan cleverly converted a well-crafted pass from Haggai Katoh to the delight of everyone at the stadium.
The Solid Miners took the lead for the first time in the game as Haggai Katoh again delivered a sumptuous cross into the Plateau United danger zone from a free-kick as right-full back, Abdullahi Abubakar, rose highest to nod the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye.
All efforts by Plateau United to equalize proved abortive as the Lafia-based team pushed for more goals.
In the second half, the trio of Katoh Haggai, Adamu Hassan and Silas Nwankwo came close as Galadima Mohammed proved his mettle in-between the sticks by denying the hosts on multiple occasions from scoring.
The final score put at 2-1 in favor of Nasarawa United.
The Solid Miners will be returning to their base in Lafia with three wins in three consecutive games, after a previous 5-0 thrashing of Kano Pillars, and 3-0 drubbing of Simo-Iben Football Academy at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Speaking shortly after the match, Club Chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi told a handful of journalists at the stadium that the result was a tip of the iceberg as to what Nasarawa United would do when the new football league season kicks-off in the country in a fortnight from today.
He acknowledged the pedigree of the hosts, revealing that they gave a good fight, but lost the preseason tie gallantly.
NASARAWA UNITED X1: Mohammed Galadima, Abdullahi Abubakar, Ini Edem(Ismaila Mohammed 89′), Sadiq Abdulrazaq, Emeka Onyema, Austin Uzochukwu, Aliyu Abdullahi, Haggai Katoh(Victor Okoro 65′), Adamu Hassan(Silas Nwankwo 65′),Chinedu Ohanachom(Barnabas Imenger Jnr 80′), Ikenna Ofor (Joshua Obaje 65′).
TECHNICAL ADVISER: Bala Nikyu
PLATEAU UNITED XI: Ajiboye Dele, Wasiu Jimoh Daniel Itodo, Charles Henlong, Buhari Ibrahim, Aliyu Salaudeen, Amos Gyang(Kingsley Chukwu 62′), Benjamin Turba(Klinshak Longbak 57′), Bashir Abdulrahaman (Umar Buhari 64′), Akila Jesse, Sunday Anthony.
TECHNICAL ADVISER: Abdul Maikaba
