EAGLES WORLD CUP HOPES HANG IN THE BALANCE

Nigeria’s chances of making the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup hang in the balance after losing 2-1 to Greece in their second match played on Thursday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. After going up in the 16^th minute courtesy of a Kalu Uche free kick, the Eagles lost Sani Kaita to a reckless red card and were condemned to their second defeat in as many games by conceded two goals in the 44^th and 71^st minute.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria started the match brightly, making incursions in the Greek eighteen yard box. Kalu Uche atoned for his miss against Argentina in the first match when he converted a free kick in the 16^th minute of the match.  It was a cagey match afterwards with the Eagles attacking force of Osaze Odemwingie and Yakubu Aiyegbeni not showing enough bite to really trouble the Greek defence.

On the 33^rd minute, the match turned on its head in favour of Greece when ?Nigerisa was reduced to 10 men after Sani Kaita committed a reckless foul by stamping in foot on a Greek Player. On the eve of the crucial encounter, Lagerback had told journalists that he was satisfied with Kaita’s performance so far. The Swede must be regretting his comment by now. After then, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, was called into action repeatedly as Greece attack made forays into the Eagles eighteen yard box. The Greek showed more attacking intent when Geogios Samaras replaced Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the 38^th minute. After sustained pressure, Greece finally got their deserved goal in the 44^th minute when Greek striker Dimitrios Salpingidis left foot drive was deflected into Enyeama’s goal by Lukman Haruna foot.

Chunedu Obasi replaced Odemwingie at the start of the second half to strengthen the Eagles attack. But it was Greece who pushed forward, asking questions of the Eagles’s defence. Kalu Uche could have put Nigeria 2-1 ahead in the 48^th minute with a deceptive flick from outside the left corner of the Greek 18 yard box. It took a smart one hand save from Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas, to parry the ball which looked destined for the roof of the net.

Nigeria’s hopes of mounting any serious onslaught were dealt a blow as Taye Taiwo was pulled out with what looked like a groin injury in the 54th minute. He was replaced by uwa Echiejile. At this time, the Eagles had lost control of the midfield and were already playing too deep and inviting more deadly attack from the Greek strikers. Just like it was in the first half, Enyeama was called into action. He made a spectacular save in the 55^th and 60^th minute to stop Greek defender Sotiros Krygiakos from scoring. A swift counter attack from the Eagles saw Obasi run solo with the ball into the Greek area to lay a pass for Yakubu Aiyegbeni only for Tzorvas to save. Obasi, who started the move, squandered the rebound by shooting waywardly. Enyeama made another full stretch save in the 68^th minute to deny Samaras header. More holes began to surface in the Eagles defence when Greece forward Theofanis Gekas hit the bar on a rebound ball but was ruled offside by the referee. Three minutes later, Greece was not to be denied a goal when Vasileios Torosidis perched on a rebound ball from Alexandros Tziolis shot to score in the 71^st minute. Greece piled more pressure on the Eagles. It was only Enyeama who denied them from inflicting more damage. Despite the four minutes of added time, there was no miracle for the Super Eagles. They looked truly and well beaten by a more tactical Greece side.