25th Match FIFA World Cup 2018
25th Match FIFA World Cup
2018
NIGERIA Beat the ICELAND
2-0 in World Cup 2018
v Nigeria won their first match of Russia 2018,
defeating tournament newcomers
v Ahmed
Musa scored both goals for the Super Eagles
v RELIVE: As
it happened, stats, more |
Nigeria got their first win of
the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ by beating tournament debutants Iceland 2-0 in
Volgograd. The result means the race for second place in Group D will go down
to the last game on 26 June. Ultimately, three teams will compete for a spot in
the Round of 16 on the final day, with the Super Eagles still able to top the
pool ahead of already-qualified Croatia.
The hero of the match was undoubtedly Ahmed Musa, who came alive
in the second half and played superbly, scoring both Nigerian goals. His first
finish in particular will surely live long in the memory as one of the goals of
the tournament: he controlled Victor Moses’ cross with one touch, setting
himself up for an unstoppable half-volley with his second. Both Musa’s strikes
were warmly received by the crowd at the Volgograd Arena, many of whom are
familiar with the striker from his spells at CSKA Moscow.
Interestingly, while the Super Eagles took control in the second
half, in the first they failed to register a single shot on target on Hannes
Halldorsson’s goal. The Icelanders came close to narrowing the deficit towards
the end of the match, but their main star Gylfi Sigurdsson spurned a glorious
chance from the penalty spot.
Team reporter analysis
Annette Braun with Nigeria [Twitter]
Nigeria struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. After Ahmed Musa’s two goals, Gernot Rohr’s extremely young team gained a lot of confidence from their attacking efforts, however. This will help them for the crucial final game against Argentina on Tuesday. Nigeria have it in their own hands now to advance to the Round of 16. That’s all they could have asked for.
Annette Braun with Nigeria [Twitter]
Nigeria struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. After Ahmed Musa’s two goals, Gernot Rohr’s extremely young team gained a lot of confidence from their attacking efforts, however. This will help them for the crucial final game against Argentina on Tuesday. Nigeria have it in their own hands now to advance to the Round of 16. That’s all they could have asked for.
After a good first half, Iceland seemed a little shell-shocked following the first goal they conceded. One of the team’s most dangerous weapons, the long throw-in, turned against the Icelandic players and caught them off-guard. It was an up-hill battle after the goal and the Nigerians had the higher energy levels to close out the game.
Budweiser Man of the Match
Ahmed Musa not only scored a double in a crucial group-stage game but also became the first Nigerian in history to score at two FIFA World Cups.
Ahmed Musa not only scored a double in a crucial group-stage game but also became the first Nigerian in history to score at two FIFA World Cups.
The stat
3 - Iceland are the third World Cup debutants from Europe to have faced Nigeria at the tournament, and on every occasion the Eagles have emerged victorious, following victories against Greece (2-0) in 1994 and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-0) in 2014.
3 - Iceland are the third World Cup debutants from Europe to have faced Nigeria at the tournament, and on every occasion the Eagles have emerged victorious, following victories against Greece (2-0) in 1994 and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-0) in 2014.
What’s next
Iceland v Croatia (Group D, 26 June, Rostov-on-Don)
Nigeria v Argentina (Group D, 26 June, Saint Petersburg)
Iceland v Croatia (Group D, 26 June, Rostov-on-Don)
Nigeria v Argentina (Group D, 26 June, Saint Petersburg)
Have your say
Fans of Nigeria | Fans of Iceland
Fans of Nigeria | Fans of Iceland
Page blog source:www.fifa.com/
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