Newly crowned Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Plateau United were on Sunday eliminated from the nation’s cup competition after a 2-4 aggregate loss to 10-man Niger Tornadoes.
United lost the first leg 2-0 in Lokoja – Tornadoes home ground – on Wednesday and had the second leg billed to hold on Saturday shifted to Sunday morning after a heavy downpour in Jos rendered the pitch unplayable.
The game did not go as expected for the league Champions as Tornadoes raced to a 2-0 first half lead courtesy of Ibrahim Babawo and Husseini Isah to extend the aggregate advantage to 4-0.
The hosts reduced the deficit seven minutes after the break through Yaro Bature’s spot kick and their work was made seemingly easier when their visitors were reduced to ten men two minutes later after Abdulkadir Zango received a second booking.
Tornadoes however held out for the aggregate victory, a second Bature penalty regardless. They will now face defending champions Ifeanyiubah in the semifinal after the Anambra Warriors decisioned ABS 4-0 on aggregate.
The other semi-final schedule will be completed after the quarter final fixture involving 2015 Champions Akwa United and Katsina United Feeders.
