Plateau Utd Defeat Rivers Utd, Returns To The Top
Plateau United have overtaken Lobi Stars at the top of the NPFL table after defeating Rivers United 1-0 in a Matchday 18 tie at the New Jos Stadium.
Mustapha Ibrahim’s 3rd minute strike was all the hosts needed to reclaim top spot.
Playing a day after Jigawa Golden Stats had beaten Lobi Stars at Sani Abach Stadium Kano, the Peace Boys, who were second going into this clash, knew victory would pilot them to the top.
The stakes were even higher as Plateau and Rivers were second and third respectively on 29 points, just adrift of Lobi. So any team that emerged victorious would replace Lobi at the top with just one matchday to the halfway mark.
Rivers United’s impressive away form before this tie had not gone unnoticed after picking eight points on the road winning twice in the process. While the visitors could draw confidence in this pre-match form, it also alerted the hosts.
Rivers had never been top this season but had hovered around the territory. This was one opportunity to end the week as pacesetters. But with an ambition that clashed with the hosts, who crave a second title after the historic 2017 triumph, it was always going to be a tall order as the Jos based side ran out with three points.
