Advertising

Dolphins make Premier League return

Dolphins make top-flight return

Posted: 2009-05-17 16:05

Two-time champions Dolphins have made a return to the Nigerian Premier League after two seasons in the National First Division wilderness.

Dolphins lost 2-1 to 3SC on Saturday in Ibadan, but with third-placed First Bank losing 1-0 to Delta Force, the Port Harcourt side kept their eight-point advantage over the Bankers with two games to go, meaning they cannot finish lower than second.

Dolphins went into the Ibadan cauldron knowing that a draw would all but ensure their top-flight qualification, especially if First Bank failed to win. But they were quickly on the ropes and went behind when Lateef Adigun took advantage of a panicked Dolphins defence to head a 15th-minute corner-kick home.

But the home crowd were stunned into silence when Jelil Adigun passed the ball into the net from a slickly orchestrated passing move that left the 3SC defence in a chasing shadows.

The home side restored their advantage from the spot; the referee adjudging that a ball into the body was deserving of a penalty. Meshack Chukwuebuka stepped up to convert.

Dolphins could have fallen further behind when skipper Emmah Godwin was adjudged to have impeded Chukwuebuka, but goalkeeper udo Ochiugo stopped Akeem Adebisi's effort, and the 3SC man skied the rebound into the stands.

At fulltime, Dolphins’ 55 points proved enough to give them a place in the elite. Shooting Stars move up to 51 points and have their promotion fate in their own hands.

First Bank will need to beat Dolphins in Port Harcourt – where the Garden City side are yet to lose a game all season – and hope that 3SC drop points.

GET KICK OFF ON YOUR PHONE!

Type m.kickoff.com into the web browser on your cellphone, or SMS 'Kick Off' to 32511 to be sent the URL. (SMS cost R1)

TEAM KICK OFF

KICK OFF's very own social networking site has gone live. Join us at www.teamKickoff.com to become part of the KICK OFF team and win some great prizes.

Save & Share

Comment on this article:

TERMS OF USE: The comments posted below do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist or inflammatory comments will be deleted and the user banned. Please report abusive posts to editor@kickoff.com

Recent Comments: 9

moneyman: 2009-05-17 19:24

I can wait for 3SC

moneyman: 2009-05-17 19:26

I can't wait for 3SC to come back to premier league, they have been in the lower division for too long. Dolphins congrat! also.

SANCHEZ: 2009-05-17 20:18

I hope these DOLPHIN players are not running around the NIGERIAN league with SUPER EAGLES jersies (above picture)cos that is not just right.

IceQueen: 2009-05-18 01:16

The Aristocrats are on their way up!
Surely 3SC will not blow it, just a draw and they are up...
If only Bendel Insurance joins them soon, then the current surviving members of the of the Nigerian football "House of Lords" will be complete- the other memebers are Heartland,Rangers,Sharks- while we wait for Calabar Rovers and Stationary Stores to awake from their comatose state.

The other members of the NPL as far I'm concerned are upstarts.

BTW, I do not understand how Lagosians live without NPL football.I know you y'll have EPL and the rest on TV, but nothing beats being there LIVE! It's a shame that the Nigerian city with the possible largest fan base available does not have a top flight team.A shame indeed.

big bang : 2009-05-18 04:19

Imagine a league with 3SC, Enyimba, Heartland, Pillars, , Dolphins, Bayelsa,Enugu Rangers, Sunshine stars and etc.

The league go sweet next year, i go install my dish tommorow, so that i can pick up NTA.

kolawole: 2009-05-18 12:28

I CANT WAIT TO HAVE 3SC BACK IN THE NIGERIAN PREMIER LEAGUE. KUDOS TO MUTIU ADEPOJU FOR A JOB WELL DONE SO FAR. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE RIGHT PLACE......UP SOOOTINGGGGGGGGGGGG

JOHNSON: 2009-05-18 12:42

yeah,d league will be hott next season..guys choose your team,i am still expecting my beloved insurance to come back up..meantime I wit heartland!

moneyman: 2009-05-18 13:32

@SANCHEZ, i think you are almost right, Dolphins outfits look like SE jersies[but its not]. I don't believe NFF will allow there logo on club side jersies.

I watched some clips of the goals of the week on cable tv.I couldn't believe some of the goals i saw, just like European League. We just need to re-grass some of our stadia.

big bang : 2009-05-19 03:30

3SC are almost back in the prem lets keep our fingers cross

they travel to First bank, if they earn a tie, and Delta force fails to win they are through, or if they win their home game against Anambra in the final game of the season, they would be back in the premiership. Imagine 3SC vs Enugu Rangers, chei i can't wait.