PRIME FC coach, Shina Afolabi has attributed his team's 3-2 loss to Go Round in a Week 5 tie of the Nigeria National League on lack of concentration which was due to a 'controversial' penalty awarded against his team during the course of the game.
The battle of two gladiators which saw two penalties, one red card and so much drama was held at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku on Saturday.
Afolabi who said the penalty destabilised his players before they conceded the winner, however enthused that his team will continue to work hard in the league.
“I am not happy that we lost this game, my boys did very well but lost concentration after the referee awarded a dubious penalty against us. The first penalty that they lost was a glaring one, but the one he awarded for Go Round for the second goal was suicidal and penalties like that demoralized players.”
“We’ve put the defeat behind us and our focus now is on our next game against Akwa Starlets at home,” Afolabi told Prime Media.
Dominic Junior put Go Round FC ahead in the 43rd minute when he tapped in from close range.
But before then, in the 29th minute, the home side got a penalty when a Prime FC defender handled the ball in the box. Captain Nyima Nwangwa hit the ball on the cross bar.
One minute into the second half, substitute Victor Okeji drew level for Prime as the Go Round FC defenders were caught ball watching.
Adeyemi Adeyeye captilised on a defensive mix up in the Go Round FC defense to put Prime 2-1 up in the 65th minute of the encounter.
With eleven minutes left to play, Chidi Nwachukwu was upended in the box and the referee called a penalty which was contested by Prime players.
Thompson Stowe converted the resultant penalty to put scores at 2-2.
Three minutes later in the 82nd, another substitute, Mathew Oshoke’s volley from close range put Go Round in the lead and the homers held on to win 3-2.
Meanwhile, coach of Go Round FC, Ngozi Elechi was happy with the win.
“I’m happy we won and I believe the changes I made, bringing in Thompson Stowe and Oshoke turned the game around for me,” Elechi said.
He also reacted to a red car given to his captain, Nyima Nwangwa late in the game.
“The red card given to my captain was not a deserved red card. I still do not understand why that was given. Maybe the referee’s opinion, but for me, I’m just happy we won the game.”
Next game for Go Round FC will be in Lagos against COD FC, while Prime will host Akwa Starlets.
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