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2010 World Cup: Greece 2-1 Nigeria – Report

Angela Asante, June 17 2010,
Greece have won their first ever points in a World Cup by triumphing over the Super Eagles of Nigeria on a 2-1 score line. Uche put the Africans ahead through a free-kick, but Sani Kaita's moment of madness offered the Greeks a perfect opportunity to shine...

Greece players celebrate as they equalize Nigeria's goal.
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Greece vs Nigeria, First Half: Sani Kaita disrupts the Super Eagles’ flight

A game concentrated in the midfield and only few shots on goal – none of them showing so much intent. That’s what the public was exposed to during the first fifteen minutes of the game. But when Peter Odemwingie was brought down through a professional foul committed by Papastathopoulos who eventually saw yellow, there was a sensation that something was going to happen.

Indeed, Uche turned into a miracle maker as he curled in a teasing free-kick from 30 yards out on the left. Peter Odemwingie also played a great role in Nigeria’s opener as he fooled Greece’s goalkeeper by faking a header inside the 6-yard box as the ball flew over everyone and into the net: 1-0 to Nigeria; quite the starts they were looking for.

 

The Greeks didn’t lose hope though. There were keen to also punish the Nigerians from a set-piece when they took a 30th minute corner; but they failed to make something out of it. Then, the moment that was meant to change the course of the game arrived: Sani Kaita was flashed a straight red card for retaliating against Greece’s Torosidis. The Greek was rightfully protecting the ball that had gone out of play as the throw was intended to go in favor of his side.

Nigeria's Sani Kaita reacting after seeing red.

But Sani Kaita wouldn’t comprehend and he rather kicked his opponent on the lap before pretending to be blameless. However, this incident didn’t escape the referee and the Nigerian was immediately sent off for an early shower. It was pure moment of madness, as people call it.

Playing with a man down was never going to be easy, and as the Greeks were looking to make the pressure and the numerical advantage count against their opponents, Nigeria were also trying to recover from this blow. Greece suddenly looked to have found freedom to perform on the pitch. They pressed forward with long crosses and quick passes towards the penalty box but Gekas couldn’t deal with the balls.

Vincent Enyeama performed another heroic save 7 minutes before half time as he stepped from his goal line to prevent Salpingidis from scoring Greece’s equalizer. Nigeria’s defenders were also well organized to clear the danger as Gekas was aiming to score on the rebound.

Three minutes later, the Greeks came calling back again from a corner but the ultimate shot was wonderfully cleared off the line by Lukman. But the former European champions didn’t have to wait for long. With 44 minutes gone down the clock, they found their spirit-lifting equalizer through Salpingidis’ deflected goal. The entire Greek bench went wild in celebration.

At the other end of the pitch, Taye Taiwo tried his luck from a long range free-kick which eventually didn’t trouble Greece’s goalkeeper Tzorvas. At half time, both teams were leveled at 1-1. But you could see from the face of the players that the Greeks were the ones looking much more confident and upbeat.

Greece score the winner against Nigeria.Greece vs Nigeria, Second Half: The Worst Nightmare

Profiting from Nigeria’s red card blow, the Greeks used a game plan that multiplied their chances upfront. Gekas came close to putting Greece into the lead after Nigeria’s defense stumbled with a mix up.

Before that though, and around the hour mark, the Super Eagles had a glorious opportunity to punish their opponents’ offensive initiatives.

Agonizingly, however, the Nigerians failed to finish their counter attacking move as Chinedu Obasi miserably squandered his shot. This attempt on goal came as a vital alert to the Greeks who responded with a second goal to crash the Super Eagles to the ground.

Torosidis’ 71st minute winner had just plunged Nigeria into a total nightmare. From there, it looked extremely difficult for the Nigerians to bounce back. Greece played mercilessly, defending the best they could.

Tziolis stretched Vincent Enyeama wide with a hard and low shot inside the 91st minute of the game as he attempted to kill off the Super Eagles. But coach Otto Rehhagel was rather keen to seeing his men defend and stop moving forward in order not to be caught on the counter attack. Time was running fast and Nigeria couldn’t find a way through.

They lost 2-1 after 94 minutes of football, leaving the Greeks to record their first ever victory in the finals of the World Cup. By losing today, Nigeria have also let their fiercest African rivals Ghana to remain the only African country to have recorded a victory so far at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Still, Group B is not yet decided. If Argentina qualified following a 4-1 victory over South Korea earlier in the day, the table’s three other teams have everything to play for. Greece and the Korea Republic both have 3 points whereas Nigeria haven’t picked up any. The Super Eagles now have to pray for the Argentines to rock Greece with goals in their final group game whereas they will need to defeat South Korea by quite a heavy score line if they are to make it to the second round.
 

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