Despite going one goal up early in the game, Dolphins failed to hang on and lost 2-1 to home side, Crown FC.
Stanley Eguma decided to start with a similar team to the one that drew 1-1 at Heartland in week one, with Emem Eduok the only change as he replaced Tijani Adamu.
Dolphins showed early promise, taking the game to the home side and after just eleven minutes played in the game, Emem Eduok’s loss cross from the left found Ifeanyi Egwim in the box.
Egwim back heeled the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper, Michael Useru to silence the previously vocal Ibadan crowd.
After that goal, Dolphins could have scored more in the first half but profligacy on the part of Ifeanyi Egwim, Emem Eduok and Fred Okwara ensured that Prime were kept in the game.
One of such occasions was in the 37th minute when Emem Eduok outran his marker and faced the goalkeeper, but his tame shot failed to beat Useru.
In the second half, the homers took the game to Dolphins and their efforts paid off in the 52nd minute.
Lax marking in the box saw Onyekachi Okafor get a loose ball and he volleyed beyond the reach of Austin Brown in Dolphins goal.
Crown’s gaffer, Lawrence Akpokona at this point threw in Waheed Bello for Christopher Obiora and they continued to raid the Dolphins area but it was the visitors who had the clearer cut chances.
In the 69th minute, Fred Okwara connected a sublime cross from Ifeanyi Egwim but his effort went wide.
Two minutes later, Victor Alegbe who had just come in for Isiaka Olawale found space in the Crown box and freed Emem Eduok who blasted wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.
In another moment of loose defending by Dolphins, Onyekachi Okafor controlled a cross into the box, shook off Chidiebere Okolie and shot behind Brown for the second and winning goal of the day.
Lawrence Akpokona said it was a big thing to win over Dolphins because they are the more experienced side with better players.
“A lot of my players have never played in the top division before so it’s a big thing that we won today,” Akpokona said.
“After we conceded the goal, I told them not to panic and take things easy and I am happy with the win.”
Dolphins’ defender, Joseph Douhadji was very depressed after the loss.
“I am just sad that we lost a game we should have won. Our players should understand that we need to win games like these. I am not happy we lost this game.
“Our players must sit up. We must all work together for the good of the team. I am not happy. We should not have conceded those goals,” Douhadji said.
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