Drama as Marvel International wins Zenith Bank/Delta principals’ cup 2018

It was a late drama at the Ozoro Polytechnic Stadium, Ozoro, Delta State as Marvel International School, Ughelli defeated St. Paul’s School, Ozoro 6-5 on penalties in the final of this year’s Zenith Bank/Delta Principals’ Cup.

St. Paul started the final game on a high but missed lots of chances in the early minutes of the game played before a huge crowd, including the governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Marvel gradually found their rhythm and started dominating towards the end of the half but failed to make their dominance count as the first half ended goalless.

With the announcement of the sum of N50,000 for the first goal scorer of the game by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths Development, Evive Ovaukoye, the two teams came out smoking in the second half and it took just two minutes into the game for Marvel Int’l to take the lead.

Etso Emoghene thought he had scored the first goal but saw his goal bound effort rocketed off the bar but the Most Valuable Player of the competition, Philip Ndinwa, was on hand to put the ball back into the net and also pocket the N50,000 prize money.

Marvel continued to dominate the game as they created several opportunities to increase the lead with Ndinwa hitting the cross bar for the second time in the game.

The fans were already on their feet celebrating the second goal after Yeko Daniel dribbled two defenders and goalkeeper, but with the net yawning, his effort went over the bar.

He would however rue his miss as St. Paul got the equaliser with almost the last kick of the ball through Atagana Akpode to send the game into the lottery of penalties.

Akpode turned from hero to villain during the shoot-out as he missed his penalty kick, his goalkeeper, however, came to his rescue when he saved Onuoha Bethel’s kick for Marvel.

With the penalty shoot out going to sudden death, it was the heroics of Marvel goalkeeper, Asaha Odemena, who after saving a penalty kick, held his nerve to score the winning kick.