|
|
|
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||
|
Super Eagles let Swedish chance slip
A first half poach
and a second half penalty kick from Sweden's Henrik Larsson were enough
to make Nigeria the first team from Group F to be eliminated from the
competition. Julius Aghahowa had given Nigeria the lead in the 27th minute
with a brilliant leaping header. It was an open, exciting
match with both teams creating many chances, but the Nigerians were unfortunate
not to come away with a point. The ball hit the Scandinavian woodwork
twice, and the Swedes also cleared the ball off the line twice. Sweden started strongly,
looking for an early goal. Their early pressure resulted in two good chances
and three corner kicks in the opening four minutes. Nigeria withstood
the early onslaught, however, and were soon controlling the midfield.
Niclas Alexandersson fouled Ifeanyi Udeze on the left side and the Nigerians
were given their first good opportunity. But Jay Jay Okocha's hard shot
went high. After Freddie Ljungberg
made a courageous run through a pair of defenders and into the penalty
area to earn a corner, Johan Mjallby's near-post header was saved off
the line at the back post by Justice Christopher . At the other end,
Julius Aghahowa opened the scoring with a flick header just inside the
far post from Joseph Yobo's right-wing cross after 27 minutes. Aghahowa's
celebration was as exciting as the goal itself, as he strung together
six handsprings before finishing with a full flip near the corner flag.
Larsson levelled the
score with a good individual effort when he managed to keep himself onside
to receive Ljungberg's through pass and then toe-poked the ball past Ike
Shorunmu. With the pace still
back and forth, Nigeria tried to answer back. When it seemed Okocha's
shot from the left side would go wanting, Sweden defender Teddy Lucic's
clearing attempt was blocked by his own man, Mjallby, and crashed off
the post. A glimpse at the importance
of the match for Nigeria was evident when defender Taribo West, with blood
splattered on his jersey, was stitched up just beyond the touch-line after
suffering a cut above his left eye early in the second half. Minutes later, West
was back on the pitch, in time to slow down a Sweden counter-attack. But
when the ball was played to an unmarked Larsson near the penalty spot,
Udeze had little choice but to pull down the Celtic star. Larsson's powerful
penalty went through the outstretched hands of Shorunmu and Sweden were
ahead (. John Utaka and Yobo
then went close within minutes of each other. First Utaka was sent into
space on the left side. After rounding goalkeeper Magnus Hedman, his shot
was cleared off the line by Mjallby. Then from the top of the area, Yobo
made a move to his left and ripped a low shot off the post to Hedman's
right. A less than fully
fit Kanu had come on as a 66th minute substituet. He had the final chance
for Nigeria in injury time, but Hedman was equal to his chip. After the match Kanu summed up the feelings of all Nigerians when he said: ""It was a big disappointment. We didn't expect to lose to Sweden." Captain Jay Jay Okocha echoed these thoughts: "I am disappointed today. It was a difficult game. It's a disaster without any points. At least we will do our best (in the next game). I still hope we can get a win." |
 |
Roberts
calls it a day Where
is Benin? Ford
stalled by UCB Blatter
crushes Hatyatou Eto'o
Samuel? In
Round 1
Metsu's
secret The
next Haile Profiles New
kids on the
|
|
|
|
|
© Copyright African Sport, 2000 |
Site
design by Lee Chamberlain
|
