The Golden Eaglets continued to wax stronger at the ongoing FIFA U-17
World Cup here when they spanked Iran 4-1 in their round of 16 match
held at the Khalifa Bin Zayes Stadium, Al Ain City.After
plundering 14 goals in the group stage, the Nigerians showed their
sheer class and beauty with a convincing first display that saw them net
three goals to the delight of the traveling Nigerian fans, who made the
almost twohours trip by road from Dubai, where the Nigerian community
have a strong voice and representation.
For the fans,
yesterday was a day of delight as their Eaglets, who are strong
contenders for the title, repaid their support with three beautiful
goals, all coming within the space of 2o minutes, to silence the Iranian
fans, shouting Iran.
Coach Manu Garba switched tactics for the
game as he fielded. Abdullahi Alfa on the left flank, allowing Musa
Yahaya to attack from the centre. In the past matches, Yahaya played
from the left side of the wing. With injured Success Isaac not dressed
for the game, the Eaglets had problems settling down as the Iranians
tried to shut them out from making their neat passing games.
The
Iranian plot appeared to be working until the 23rd minute when left-full
back Samuel Okon scored the opener for the Eaglets. He profited from
Yahaya and Alfa combination, before threading a
right-foot shot pass onrushing Iranian goalkeeper Mahdi Amini, who should have done better with the ball.
Just
as the celebrations were dying down, star-boy Kelechi Iheanacho, put
Nigeria 2-0 up with a clever left-foot finish. Taiwo Awoniyi, playing in
the absence of Isaac, was the creator of the goal in the 25th minute.
He brilliantly rounded up two Iranian defenders, allowing Iheanacho to come into range before passing for the Imo native to score his fifth of the tournament.But
Iheanacho’s joy was short-lived moments later when he got injured and
was substituted by Chidera Ezeh. His exit did not reduce Eaglets’s
firepower as they scored their third of the night in the 42 minute
through captain Musa Mohammed, who sliced the ball into the net and
immediately raced to the substitutes bench to celebrate the goal with
his teammates.
The party got merrier for the Eaglets in the second half when Musa
Yahaya put the Nigerians 4-0 up. Iranian goalie Amini was dejected and
inconsolable. He only conceded two goals in the group stage and here
he was shipping in four goals in a single match. Yahaya’s goal, which
came in the 76th minute,, was his fourth of the tournament as he joins
the list of players battling for the highest goal scorer award.
With
Nigerian dancing away into the quarterfinal, Ali Gholizadeh scored
Iran’s only goal in the 84th minute. No other goal was scored as Eaglets
ran out 4-1 winners to secure a heavyweight quarterfinal clash with
Uruguay at Sharjar on Saturday.
may be i am going to become a footballer too , because that is the new gold rush .
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