Esosa Igbinoba was the hero as Nasarawa United defeated hard-fighting Plateau United 2-1 in a Week 12 game of the Nigeria league.
Nasarawa now have 12 points from 10 games, while Plateau United have 14 points from 12 games. Nasarawa United opened the scoring through Seun Sogbeso, who converted a spot kick in the 19th minute after a Plateau United player handled the ball in a vital area.
Julius Nuhu equalised for Plateau United in the 45th minute off Sunday Ingbede's pass after he had wasted a couple of chances earlier.
Esosa Igbinoba hit the winner in the 79th minute. Speaking after the match, Nasarawa United coach, Kabiru Dogo, described the Match Day 12 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture against Plateau United as the most difficult game his team has played so far this season.
"There is no match that is easy in the Nigerian league again. This game was difficult because Nasarawa United and Plateau United have the same father and mother. They are almost in the same state, playing in such game is always difficult.
"We had our chances in the first half and we should have killed off the game but we didn't do that. In the second half they played well.
"It has not been easy. They (Plateau United) had one week to prepare (for this game), while we had only three days.
"What matters is the victory and we thank God that we were able to get the three points.
"Esosa is a very strong member of the team. Forget that he has not been starting games for some time. He had 16 or so goals last season the second top scorer behind Salami. This season he had psychological problems but he has started scoring. I assure that very soon we will see the best of him," Dogo told npfl.ng.
The win over Plateau United have seen Nasarawa United move out of the bottom-four on the log.
