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The win now sees Gombe United move up to sixth in Group A, while Plateau United remain in fourth - behind Bendel Insurance, Enyimba and Akwa United.
Plateau United were unable to continue their fine form, as a late penalty goal helped Gombe United halt the Jos club's 4-match unbeaten run in a 3-2 thriller.
The Week 9 fixture of the 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, until the 90+5th, could have become the fifth consecutive match that the Plateau United had either won or drawn since February, but an unrelenting Gombe United who had failed to win in their last three matches, fought hard to make it their first win.
The exciting encounter at Pantami Stadium in Gombe on Monday saw the goals shared across the board, with Anayo Ogbonna, Rahman Olaranwaju and Muhammadu Souley scoring for the Gombe United, and Albert Hillary and Moses Adikwu scoring for the visitors.
Three goals in 23 minutes
Both sides headed into the game at the Pantami Stadium, on a string of contrasting fortunes: Plateau United with a defeat in four games, and Gombe United, without a win in three games.
Eager to better their luck, neither side sat back and goals expectedly started pouring in early, with the first coming from Gombe United's Ogbonna in the 12th minute.
Hillary succeeded in putting Plateau United back on level terms only six minutes later, but it took just six minutes for the effort to be undone, and the hosts in front again thanks to Olarewanju who headed home Sadiq Shuaibu's corner kick.
Gombe United almost made it 3-1 before halftime, but Yusuf Taiye was flagged for offside after heading home Anayo's cross.
Late penalty gives Gombe United the win
The second half saw Plateau United take matters into their hands first, and score in the first minute of play with Adikwu heading in Daniel Itodi's long throw-in, something that spurred them to continue to push for an away win.
However, things weren't going to go their way this time around as the referee awarded a late penalty to the hosts following a handball situation, something Souley made no mistake in converting.
The win now sees Gombe United move up to sixth in Group A, while Plateau United remain in fourth - behind Bendel Insurance, Enyimba and Akwa United.
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