Abia Warriors’ hope of getting their first away point in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League was dashed by Plateau United FC who ran riot in the early stages of the game at the Jos International Stadium to send their visitors back to Umuahia empty-handed.
Abia Warriors must thank their goalkeeper, Johnson Nmecha for his “Man of the Match” heroics which made the scoreline end 3-1 in favour of the home team.
Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni was Abia Warriors worst enemy on the day as he had a hand in each of the three goals his side scored. First, his long throw was headed home by Chris Nweze in the third minute for the opener with spectators still making their way to the arena
Four minutes later, Warriors’ defense failed to handle Olawale’s long throw again and Barnabas Daniel reacted the quickest to score from close range.
Warriors conceded the third goal in the 22nd minute via unfortunate circumstance as a square ball from Olawale was inadvertently headed into his own net by Warriors Captain Augustine Njoku.
The visitors pulled one back through Meme Okike in the 27th minute when Paschal Nwabueze’s effort was parried by United’s goalkeeper and the former Tiger Boys of Umuahia prodigy reacted quickest to score his second league goal of the season.
The goal merely served as a consolation to the Warriors, who will hope to perform better when they travel to Port Harcourt for their next encounter against Rivers United.
