A header from Bright Dike in the 35th minute and a near post
volley from Shola Ameobi in the 39th minute respectively ensured that the Super
Eagles of Nigeria recorded a 2-2 draw with the Azurris of Italy in an
international friendly played Monday evening at Craven Cottage, the home ground
of Fulham Football Club of England.
The Italians showed class
over the African champions as they dominated and dictated the flow of the game
with the Nigerians chasing the ball in the first ten minutes of play.
With AC Milan of Italy
forward Mario Balotelli tormenting the Nigerian defence and on the 12th minute
of the pulsating encounter, the Europeans got the lead after a defensive error
with Giuseppe Rossi coming one-on-one with Austin Ejide. Rossi wasted no time
as he chipped the ball over the exposed Nigerian goalkeeper.
After going one goal up the Europeans became sloppy paving the
way for the Super Eagles to gain some confidence with Victor Moses, who is on
loan to Liverpool from Chelsea making some blistering runs on the flanks.
It was a ding-dong affair
with both teams creating some goal scoring chances but the Nigerians were the
most adventurous making some runs into the vital area of the Europeans.
The Nigerians were later
rewarded for their intense search as Bright Dike headed in from close range
from a Shola Ameobi pullout in the 35th minute to restore parity.
Four minutes later, it was
Ameobi who had an assist that got his name on the goalscorer sheet as he
connected nicely a pullout from Francis Benjamin to give the three time African
champions the lead.
The first half came to a
close with both teams making dangerous incursions into their different vital
area.
Two minutes after referee
Martin Atkinson restarted the encounter Italy equalised through Emmanuel
Giaccherinni who was unmarked in the six yard area of the Super Eagles.
With parity restored both
teams made some changes. However, the introduction of veteran midfielder,
Andrea Pirlo by the Azurris eclipsed Mikel Obi’s dominance in midfield.
Pirlo’s dominance in midfield
apparently forced the technical crew of the Eagles to resort to the use of long
thrusts instead of their usual wing play.
Despite both teams leaving
out some of their regulars the entire game still lived up to its billing as it
was very competitive with referee cautioning three Nigerian players and an
Italian player.
The Eagles will have Godfrey
Oboabona and Ejide, who was later replaced by stand-in skipper, goalkeeper to
thank as they showed some brilliance to save the day.
Alessandro Diamanti came to
close getting the decider in the concluding part but his shot came off the
cross bar.
The Eagles also had their
chances but selfish play on the part of some players denied them the
opportunity.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Going by this i see the National side of the Super eagles going getting to the finals in Brazil world cup 2014...
Your take please.
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