The 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture between Nasarawa United Football Club and Kwara United FC on Sunday ended in a six-goal thriller with both sides scoring three each.
The entertaining Match Day 9 encounter played at the Lafia Township Stadium saw the hosts missing a series of clear scoring chances.
But in the 22nd minute, a foul on Ishaya Anyu earned the hosts a penalty kick which Seun Sogbeso scored to give them a 1-0 lead till the half-time break.
Kwara United came out fighting and in the 64th minute, Stephen Alfred took advantage of Nasarawa United’s sloppy defending to score from close range and make it 1-1.
In the 73rd minute, barely two minutes after entering the pitch as a substitute, Najeem Olukokun connected to a fine cross from Kabiru Balogun with a close range header.
In the 84th minute, Olukokun again exhibited the qualities of a super-sub by hitting a volley from outside the penalty area to increase the home side’s lead to 3-1.
Barely a minute later, Kwara United’s Alfred again quietened the stadium with a shot which beat Nasarawa United’s goalkeeper Umar Danlami to make it 3-2.
Substitute Micheal Ohanu rose highest in the first minute of added time to connect a header and make it 3-3.
Speaking after the match, the Head Coach of Nasarawa United, Kabiru Dogo, said the match’s outcome was shocking, disappointing and not what the team had expected from a home encounter.
“We are very disappointed because this was not what we wanted. As I am talking to you, I am not even thinking of the next encounter against FC IfeanyiUbah because of this shocking result.
“Maybe in the next few hours, we will think of what to do,” he said.