The referee's whistle blew. The second half started. The stadium shouted loudly. Enyimba players ran out fast. They wore blue shirts. They wanted to win in their home. The air was thick with the smell of food. It felt strong with hope.
Adam Black stood still by the field. His arms were folded. His face, a mix of black and brown from his parents, looked calm and serious. He watched Enyimba's player, Uche (Enyimba No. 10). Uche was dangerous. He quickly passed to Mbaoma (Enyimba) on the side. Plateau's team used a 4-1-4-1 plan. It was made to stop attacks and then go fast to score. This plan was tested right away.
"Their captain is pushing very high," Danladi said softly next to Adam. He held his clipboard tightly.
"Let him," Adam answered. His voice was hard to hear over the noise. "It opens space behind them."
For the whole second half, Enyimba attacked nonstop. They were like waves crashing against Plateau's defence. Goke fought hard on the right side. He was young, but he faced strong Enyimba players and did not give up. Abdullahi was in the middle of the field. He was like a shield. He tackled, stopped passes, and broke up plays very strongly. Every time Plateau blocked a shot, headed the ball away, or kicked it clear, Enyimba fans groaned. They were angry. Bello (Plateau Attacker) and Kazeem worked very hard. They ran after every loose ball. They tried to send the ball forward to stop the pressure, but often the ball just came back.
In the TV box, Kolapo Aluko's voice got louder. "Enyimba won't stop! Plateau is just barely holding on. Every tackle, every clear kick makes the home fans shout louder! They want their team to score!"
"You can feel how much pressure there is, Kolapo," Joe Agbo added. His voice sounded tired. "That young Plateau keeper, Victor, must be ready. He is making save after save! He is almost keeping them in this game by himself!"
It was true. Victor was amazing. He made two great saves one after another. One was a diving stop from a hard shot that looked like a goal. The other was a brave run out to stop a dangerous pass at the feet of an Enyimba striker. His hands hurt. His body ached. But he would not give up.
Samson Mba stood behind Adam. He was not moving his hands anymore. He was holding his arms tight. He was silently wishing for a miracle. "This cannot last," he whispered. But he kept watching Victor.
Adam did not move. His eyes looked over the field. He gave orders loudly. He pointed. He made small changes. He told Kelvin to drop back more. This helped the middle of the field. He told Kelvin to get the ball from defenders and pass it. This gave them a short break. He told Sikiru and Bello (Plateau Attacker) to stay high up. He knew one quick attack could win the game. But they did not get many chances.
The Penalty Miss
75 minutes.
Something bad happened for Plateau. A clumsy foul inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot. Penalty for Enyimba!
The stadium exploded with noise. It was a mix of hope and wanting from the fans. Uche (Enyimba No. 10) stepped up. He carried the hopes of all the fans on his shoulders.
He hit the ball hard. It was a strong shot towards the bottom corner of the goal. But Victor, who guessed correctly, dived fully. His strong hands pushed the ball against the goal post. The ball bounced away and was no longer a danger.
The stadium went completely silent. Then, a loud groan of disbelief came from the fans. The small group of Plateau fans behind the goal cheered very loudly.
The Last Minutes
88 minutes.
This was the most exciting part. Uche (Enyimba No. 10) passed the ball quickly near the penalty box. He moved past a tired Kazeem (who was now replaced by Emmy). Uche kicked the ball cleanly. It was a low shot. It passed the defenders. It looked like a goal. But suddenly, Victor, diving fully again, touched it with his fingertips. He pushed it just wide of the goal post. The stadium gasped. Then it shouted in anger.
The clock showed extra time. Four minutes. Enyimba put all their players forward to attack. Their defenders also joined the attack. It was crazy. Plateau's defenders were very tired. Their legs felt heavy. But their minds were strong. Every pass from Enyimba was stopped. Every shot was blocked. Every cross was kicked away.
The referee looked at his watch. Adam's heart beat very fast.
Then, the whistle blew.
The game was over. Enyimba 0 – 1 Plateau United.
The Enyimba fans were quiet. They could not believe it. Then, a loud cheer came from the few Plateau fans who traveled. Some other people in the stadium clapped. The Plateau players were very tired. They fell to the ground. Some raised their arms to the sky. Others just breathed hard. Some even had tears in their eyes.
Adam gave a quick, happy nod. He walked onto the field. He shook hands with the Enyimba coach, who looked very sad. Then, Adam went to his players. He patted their backs. He told them quiet words of great praise. Victor looked at Adam. A big, happy smile was on Victor's face. Kelvin came to Adam. They just nodded to each other. They both had great respect.
After the Match
Post-match Press Conference
Adam sat in front of the reporters. Sweat was still on his face.
"Coach Adam, you won 1-0 away from home against the big team! And Victor's penalty save! What do you think about the game?" a reporter asked.
"It is a huge win," Adam answered. His voice was steady. He sounded a little tired. "It shows how strong the players are. They played under a lot of pressure. They played against a top team. They played in a place where people were against them. And they showed great discipline, smart thinking, and belief to keep the other team from scoring. And Victor… he was amazing. Two great saves, including the penalty. He was the hero today."
"Many people thought Enyimba would win easily. They attacked a lot. How did your team stop them from scoring?" another reporter asked.
Adam leaned forward a little. "Habits. We train to handle pressure. We train to defend together as a team. We train to never give up. Today, the players trusted their training completely. They remembered who they are. And they became too strong to break. And Victor, he was simply inspired."
The Ride Back Home
The team bus was not quiet on the way back. It was full of happy, almost unbelievable energy. Players sang. They laughed. They told stories about how they defended so well, especially Victor's saves. They were still tired, but the excitement was much bigger. This was not just a win. It was a big statement.
Adam sat near the front again. His notebook was open. He had gotten a very important win away from home. It was against a very big team. And they did not let the other team score any goals. It was more than a statement. It was a loud, clear sign of their power. His mind was already working. He thought about how well they defended. But he also thought about how few chances they had to attack.
He looked out at the lights of villages passing by. He smiled, feeling happy. The trip was long. But it felt much shorter now. Today, they had faced the big "elephant" team. They stood strong. And they won. The fire inside him was burning brighter than ever. This was not just the start. It was a new way of doing things.