In a thrilling Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) week 19 match, Handsome Surveyor emerged as the hero for Rivers United, scoring a dramatic late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw against struggling Plateau United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. This result comes as a welcome relief for Plateau United, who had been bracing themselves for a potentially crushing defeat.
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The match had seemed destined for a Plateau United victory, with Vincent Temitope scoring in the 51st minute to give the visitors a hard-fought lead. However, just as Plateau United were about to celebrate a rare away win, Surveyor struck in the sixth minute of second-half added time, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Although the draw may have come as a relief for Plateau United, it is undoubtedly a missed opportunity for Rivers United, who had been seeking to close the gap on league leaders Remo Stars. A victory would have drawn Rivers United level on points with Remo Stars, who currently top the table with 36 points from 19 matches. Instead, the draw allows Remo Stars to maintain their slender lead.
Meanwhile, the crucial away point has provided temporary respite for Plateau United, who now sit 16th on the table with 20 points, easing their relegation worries for the time being.
In a dramatic turn of events, both Finidi George, the coach of Rivers United, and his counterpart, Mbwas Mangut of Plateau United, were given their marching orders by the Centre Referee, Olawale Fawole, during the NPFL match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
Finidi George revealed that his dismissal was a result of his protests against the referee’s decision to temporarily halt the game to address a disturbance in the crowd. According to Finidi, this interruption disrupted the momentum of the game, which was crucial for his team.
Finidi expressed his frustration, stating that referees should focus solely on officiating the game, rather than getting distracted by external factors. “Football is all about moments, and we were losing momentum when the referee stopped the game to attend to the crowd,” Finidi explained in a post-match interview with Rivers United’s media.
“I was trying to tell the referee that he couldn’t stop the drums from playing, and that he should have concentrated on the game. That’s when he gave me a card, and I had to protest,” Finidi added, highlighting the importance of maintaining focus and momentum in the game.
