The Super Eagles fell by a lone goal to Argentina in their opening match of the World Cup. The victory margin would have been much wider had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama..
The Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel goal stopper was the standout player of the Nigerian side and he was justifiably voted the Budweiser Man of the Match after a commanding performance against the former world champions.
Enyeama all through the game dived, punched and parried as he kept the Argentine forward line of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez at bay.
The game began with Nigeria getting the first chance of the game when Chinedu Obasi found room on the left side of the attack but his shot was way off target. That appeared to be the wake-up call for the Argentines as they soon went on the offensive.
And in the fifth minute, an error by Chidi Odiah resulted in Messi running at the Nigerian defence before curling a shot that Enyeama was well placed to parry for a corner. From the resultant corner kick, Obinna Nsofor failed to pick out Gabriel Heinze and the Marseille defender headed the ball into the back of the net to put the Albiceleste one-nil up.
In the 18th minute, Enyeama was up to the task yet again stopping a goal bound curling effort from Messi. Three minutes later, it was Gonzalo Higuain's turn to try the Nigerian goalkeeper but he was unable to place his shot past the onrushing Enyeama. And eight minutes from the end of the half, a well-planned free kick by the Argentines started and ended with Messi, but Enyeama saved yet again, and spectacularly, with his left hand to keep the score line respectable at the break.
Super Enyeama
After the break, Lars Lagerback brought on Obafemi Martins for Nsofor and Osaze Odemwingie for Obasi, but it was still one way traffic in favour of the Argentines who were however unable to get the better of Enyeama, with his first save of the half arriving in the 66th minute when he blocked Higuain's shot from up-close after an exchange of passes with Messi.
Four minutes later, the Super Eagles came close to pulling back on level terms when Taye Taiwo's shot from the edge of the area only missed the Argentine goal by whiskers with Sergio Romero clearly beaten. The effort however came at a cost for the Marseille defender as he was subsequently taken off the pitch clutching his left knee.
In the 78th minute, Romero was once again tested, this time by Martins whose effort from outside the area was punched out of the danger area. But three minutes afterwards, Messi was denied yet again by Enyeama. A lovely interchange of passes by the Barcelona forward and Diego Milito, who took the place of Higuain two minutes earlier, ended with Messi unable to curl his shot past the advancing Enyeama.
Seconds later, a cross into the Argentine area ended at the feet of Kalu Uche, who took the place of the injured Taiwo, but the Spain based forward scooped his shot over the crossbar when he ought to have hit the back of the net.
That served as a sign for Diego Maradona to fortify his defence and he did that by introducing Nicolas Burdisso for Angel Di Maria. The Super Eagles however still had one more chance to draw level but Aiyegbeni Yakubu's dipping shot sailed over Romero's crossbar.
Comments