ABUJA – The Plateau team on Wednesday in Abuja defeated the Kaduna state team 2-0 in a Group A clash at the ongoing finals of the 2014/2015 President Cup Football Tournament.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result was however not enough to ensure progress for the team after it ended up with four points from three matches.
Isaac Simon had opened scoring for the Plateau side a minute to the end of the first half following a good pass from Ali Shehu.
At the beginning of second half, the Kaduna state team tried to equalise but failed to convert all its scoring chances to goals.
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Shehu then extended the Plateau team’s lead in the 89th minute of play to take the game beyond the Kaduna state side.
Plateau’s coach Sani Muhammed told NAN after the match that he was happy with his team’s performance.
”I am happy that we won. It has been our desire to win this match and I am happy that we made it.
”Our opponents are good, but I guess the better side won. So, I am grateful to God,’’ he said.
Gidi Muhammed, the Kaduna state coach, on his part applauded his team in spite of their loss.
“It is a game, you cannot win all the time. My boys played well but it is not our day today (Wednesday). I will give them kudos for the match, because I am sure they will get better,” he said.
Plateau finished with four points from three matches after having drawn goalless with Lagos on Monday and lost 0-1 to Kano on Tuesday.
Kaduna state ended up with no point from three matches, after a 1-2 loss to Kano state on Monday and a 0-2 loss to Lagos on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in the other group match earlier in the day, Lagos and Kano state drew goalless for both sides to advance to the quarter-finals.
Kano topped the group with seven points from three matches, after two wins and a draw, following 2-1 and 1-0 wins over Kaduna state and Plateau on Monday and Tuesday repectively.
Lagos were runners-up with five points from one draw and two draws, following a goalless draw with Plateau on Monday and a 2- defeat of Kaduna state.
Both Kano state and Lagos will now play in Friday’s quarter-final matches.(NAN)
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