The Super Eagles of Nigeria were in action against the Greek National team. This match which was one the matches organised by the NFF in the USA to fine tune preparations for the World Cup finals in Brazil ended in a barring draw.
The scoreline however, does not reflect the tempo of the game, as both teams came out attacking but failed to find the net at both ends of the pitch.
The first half was characterised by loose balls, needless tackles, and long-range shots from both sides. Though Nigeria had more of the possession, the closest the game came to a goal was a shot inside the box from Loannis Fetfatzidis in the 27th minute. However, Vincent Enyeama saved well at his near post for a corner kick.
The second was an improvement with both sides pushing for goals but both goalkeepers were resolute as the game ended in a draw with Fernando Santos and Stephen Keshi pleased with the fitness gained by the players.
Greece kicked off the match after the national anthem of Nigeria and Greece had been rendered by Yemi Akanbi and Kalemira respectively.
The second half saw both teams raising the tempo of the game and it was a surprise that with the number of chances created the game ended scoreless. After disappearing for the last 25 minutes of the first half, Victor Moses was in his element throughout the second stanza and could have won a penalty towards the end of the match. But in all, it was a good showing by the Eagles though Keshi will now know that his team must do more in the offensive part of their game. Greece played like Iran – compact, hard to break down and dangerous on set pieces.
First Half
A strong run down the left flank by Emmanuel Emenike in the second minute won Nigeria the first corner kick of the game. A careless mistake by Ogenyi Onazi gifted Greece their first corner kick of the game and the careless give-away was a recurring theme throughout the first half by Onazi. Victor Moses made a strong run in the 10th minute and he was brought down on the edge of the Greece box, but the resultant free-kick was rolled to Emenike, who blasted against a Greece defender and the danger was cleared. Osaze Odemwingie fouled the Greece goalkeeper in the 15th minute and then fired wide from distance a minute later. Giorgos Karagounis then took a tumble after a collision with Mikel Obi in midfield.
At 20 minutes, Karagounis won the ball off Obi and passed it to Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, whose shot was close to opening the scores. Ahmed Musa, quiet on the wing, then shot a goal from 35 yards that was safely gathered by Panagiotis Glykos. Another bout of loose defending from Godfrey Oboabona and Efe Ambrose let Fetfatzidis in, but Enyeama made a good save at his near post to concede a corner kick. Emenike chose to shoot rather than pass to either Odemwingie or Musa, who had run off him. His shot was wild and wide.
Referee Elmer Bonilla then wrongly adjudged Emenike offside in the 34th minute as video replays showed the Nigerian striker was at best level with Giorgos Tzavellas. Onazi followed up with another shot from a two minute distance but Glykos saved with a corner kick.
There was concern for the Eagles at 40 minutes when Elderson Echiejile went down with an apparent hamstring and Kunle Odunlami, who was himself injured against Scotland last Wednesday, replaced him. Ambrose switched to left back and fans may have been wondering why Juwon Oshaniwa did not come on. The match tailed off as the first half was blown off.
Second Half
The game resumed with Greece making changes and also the Eagles as Keshi brought on Joseph Yobo – for his 97th cap, for Godfrey Oboabona and Michael Uchebo for a very ineffective Ahmed Musa. Uchebo made a quick impression and his shot needed stopping on 47 minutes. Two minutes later, Moses got into the box but was caught in two minds – whether to shoot or pass and when he finally decided to shoot, his shot was charged down for Glykos to easily gather the rebound. The other surprise inclusion in the Eagles, Michael Babatunde came on for Odemwingie in the 53rd minute, as the Stoke City forward had been largely invisible throughout his stint. Emenike blasted wide on 53 minutes as the Eagles continued to shoot from a distance while Enyeama made a smart stop from a left-footed drive from the dangerous Fetfatzidis.
A good combination play between Uchebo and Moses opened up the Greek defence in the 58
th minute but Moses had too tight an angle to squeeze his shot past Stefanos Kapino.
The Eagles were doing all the running at this time but were not stretching the Greek defence very well as Emenike continued to patrol with balls to him at a premium. Panagiotis Kone should have scored the opener on 65 minutes after the dangerous Fetfatzidis broke past Ambrose but his left-footed shot was just wide off Enyeama’s right hand post. Three minutes later, Babatunde shot wide off another pass from Uchebo, who had obviously enlivened the front line with his quick movements and passes.
In the 76th minute, Uche Nwofor came on for Emenike and two minutes later, Babatunde’s half-volley in the box was blocked off a cross from Odunlami.
Enyeama came to the Eagles’ rescue in the 82nd minute as he made a double save off Giorgos Samaras and Dimitrios Salpingidis. Konstantinos Mitroglu used a back-heel to set Samaras off, but Enyeama made the save and the headed rebound by Dimitris Salpingidis was then saved. Arouna Kone then squandered another glorious chance with six minutes left on the clock as his right-footed shot from outside the box went very close but went wide. Onazi then let it fly from all of 35 yards in the 86th minute but substitute goalkeeper, Kapino made a fine save.
Moses thought he had won a penalty in the 87th minute, but replays showed that Samaras caught the winger on time at the edge of the box. Ambrose headed the resultant free kick wide. Uchebo then made a good move down the right to go past his marker but his cutback did not reach Nwofor, who was shouting for the ball to be played into his path. Two minutes were added on but both sides settled for the draw.
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This article was first published on 4th June 2014
obimartins
Martins Okafor is a Sports Writer for Connect Nigeria. He has been a sport buff for years, following stories and development in leagues and international competitions. His interest led him to writing stories – reporting on sporting events. He has superior interest in soccer, but knows much about other sports. He plans to have a blog and to advance in sport journalism. You can email him at: obimartins85 [at] gmail.com
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The Super Eagles of Nigeria were in action against the Greek National team. This match which was one the matches organised by the NFF in the USA to fine tune preparations for the World Cup finals in Brazil ended in a barring draw.
The scoreline however, does not reflect the tempo of the game, as both teams came out attacking but failed to find the net at both ends of the pitch.
The first half was characterised by loose balls, needless tackles, and long-range shots from both sides. Though Nigeria had more of the possession, the closest the game came to a goal was a shot inside the box from Loannis Fetfatzidis in the 27th minute. However, Vincent Enyeama saved well at his near post for a corner kick.
The second was an improvement with both sides pushing for goals but both goalkeepers were resolute as the game ended in a draw with Fernando Santos and Stephen Keshi pleased with the fitness gained by the players.
Greece kicked off the match after the national anthem of Nigeria and Greece had been rendered by Yemi Akanbi and Kalemira respectively.
The second half saw both teams raising the tempo of the game and it was a surprise that with the number of chances created the game ended scoreless. After disappearing for the last 25 minutes of the first half, Victor Moses was in his element throughout the second stanza and could have won a penalty towards the end of the match. But in all, it was a good showing by the Eagles though Keshi will now know that his team must do more in the offensive part of their game. Greece played like Iran – compact, hard to break down and dangerous on set pieces.
First Half
A strong run down the left flank by Emmanuel Emenike in the second minute won Nigeria the first corner kick of the game. A careless mistake by Ogenyi Onazi gifted Greece their first corner kick of the game and the careless give-away was a recurring theme throughout the first half by Onazi. Victor Moses made a strong run in the 10th minute and he was brought down on the edge of the Greece box, but the resultant free-kick was rolled to Emenike, who blasted against a Greece defender and the danger was cleared. Osaze Odemwingie fouled the Greece goalkeeper in the 15th minute and then fired wide from distance a minute later. Giorgos Karagounis then took a tumble after a collision with Mikel Obi in midfield.
At 20 minutes, Karagounis won the ball off Obi and passed it to Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, whose shot was close to opening the scores. Ahmed Musa, quiet on the wing, then shot a goal from 35 yards that was safely gathered by Panagiotis Glykos. Another bout of loose defending from Godfrey Oboabona and Efe Ambrose let Fetfatzidis in, but Enyeama made a good save at his near post to concede a corner kick. Emenike chose to shoot rather than pass to either Odemwingie or Musa, who had run off him. His shot was wild and wide.
Referee Elmer Bonilla then wrongly adjudged Emenike offside in the 34th minute as video replays showed the Nigerian striker was at best level with Giorgos Tzavellas. Onazi followed up with another shot from a two minute distance but Glykos saved with a corner kick.
There was concern for the Eagles at 40 minutes when Elderson Echiejile went down with an apparent hamstring and Kunle Odunlami, who was himself injured against Scotland last Wednesday, replaced him. Ambrose switched to left back and fans may have been wondering why Juwon Oshaniwa did not come on. The match tailed off as the first half was blown off.
Second Half
The game resumed with Greece making changes and also the Eagles as Keshi brought on Joseph Yobo – for his 97th cap, for Godfrey Oboabona and Michael Uchebo for a very ineffective Ahmed Musa. Uchebo made a quick impression and his shot needed stopping on 47 minutes. Two minutes later, Moses got into the box but was caught in two minds – whether to shoot or pass and when he finally decided to shoot, his shot was charged down for Glykos to easily gather the rebound. The other surprise inclusion in the Eagles, Michael Babatunde came on for Odemwingie in the 53rd minute, as the Stoke City forward had been largely invisible throughout his stint. Emenike blasted wide on 53 minutes as the Eagles continued to shoot from a distance while Enyeama made a smart stop from a left-footed drive from the dangerous Fetfatzidis.
A good combination play between Uchebo and Moses opened up the Greek defence in the 58th minute but Moses had too tight an angle to squeeze his shot past Stefanos Kapino.
The Eagles were doing all the running at this time but were not stretching the Greek defence very well as Emenike continued to patrol with balls to him at a premium. Panagiotis Kone should have scored the opener on 65 minutes after the dangerous Fetfatzidis broke past Ambrose but his left-footed shot was just wide off Enyeama’s right hand post. Three minutes later, Babatunde shot wide off another pass from Uchebo, who had obviously enlivened the front line with his quick movements and passes.
In the 76th minute, Uche Nwofor came on for Emenike and two minutes later, Babatunde’s half-volley in the box was blocked off a cross from Odunlami.
Enyeama came to the Eagles’ rescue in the 82nd minute as he made a double save off Giorgos Samaras and Dimitrios Salpingidis. Konstantinos Mitroglu used a back-heel to set Samaras off, but Enyeama made the save and the headed rebound by Dimitris Salpingidis was then saved. Arouna Kone then squandered another glorious chance with six minutes left on the clock as his right-footed shot from outside the box went very close but went wide. Onazi then let it fly from all of 35 yards in the 86th minute but substitute goalkeeper, Kapino made a fine save.
Moses thought he had won a penalty in the 87th minute, but replays showed that Samaras caught the winger on time at the edge of the box. Ambrose headed the resultant free kick wide. Uchebo then made a good move down the right to go past his marker but his cutback did not reach Nwofor, who was shouting for the ball to be played into his path. Two minutes were added on but both sides settled for the draw.
