The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Kwara United left it late to see off hard fighting, ABU Zaria in the Federation Cup round of 32 tie on Wednesday in Minna.

The Harmony Boys advanced to the next stage of the competition 5-3 on penalties after full time scores stood at 2-2 draw.

The llorin warlords opened the score in the 13th minute through Ismaila Gata but the non-league side equalised through a well taken free kick scored by Isah Ndala.

Ahmed Jimoh restored Kwara United lead in the 37th minute as score line remained that way throughout the first half of the hotly contested encounter.

Zaria outfit got a penalty in the 61st minute which was converted by Sadiq Haruna to put the scores at 2-2 a result that remained for the rest of the high tensed game.

Kwara United scored their five penalty kicks while ABU Zaria missed one out of the four kicks taken to end the game at 5-3 in favour of the top flight side.

The game saw the combination of the Gata brothers for the first time for Kwara United and both of them threatened endlessly the non-league side defence but they can only manage a goal.

bubakar Yusuf had a great game leading to the assist of the first goal while Adeshina Gata assisted Ahmed Jimoh for the second goal.

Kwara United technical adviser, Tunde Abdulrahman praised his wards for seeing off the stubborn Zaria boys though he complained of the poor pitch.

"I must commend my players for their fighting spirit and resilience in the midst of stiff challenge posed by the ABU, Zaria side.

"I understand the ongoing Muslim fasting affected their performance as many of the players are core Muslims, the pitch, too hampered their efficiency.

"I will strive to monitor the situation in subsequent games," said Abdulrahman to supersport.com.

The victory has seen Kwara United progressed to the Cup round of 16.