Salem Fago and Jude Sunday scored their first goals to help
Nigeria beat Italy 2-0 in the Group D match day two clash at the Estadio
Malvinas Argentines on Wednesday evening.
The 20-year-old had been largely ineffective in the 53
minutes he was on the pitch during the Flying Eagles 2-1 win over the Dominican
Republic on Sunday night.
But he was the hero as Nigeria booked their ticket to the
knockout rounds with their second consecutive match at the tournament.
Daniel Daga had the sight of the goal in the right minute
but his low drive went off target.
Nigeria had their first corner in the 15th minute but Salim
Fago headed over the bar following a good delivery.
Italy went close in the 21st minute when Pafundi danced past
two Nigerian tackles, his low cross found Cesare Casadei who sent a snap shot
onto the cross bar. Nigeria cleared the ball afterwards.
Jude Sunday was proving to be the most exciting Nigerian
attacker and just before the half-hour mark space opened up a bit for him on
the edge of the box but his final shot whistled past the left post.
Shortly after, Agbalaka got at the end of another Nigerian
corner but he was only able to head wide.
The Flying Eagles finally worked the Italian goalkeeper
after Fago ran unto Abdullahi’s through ball and lashed a fierce drive that the
goalie pushed past for a corner.
Agbalaka handled the ball in the box for a potential Italian
penalty but VAR came to Nigeria’s rescue as it spotted an earlier Italian
handball.
Late in the half, Aniagboso had to be alert to smartly turn
a fierce drive from the distance over the post for an Italian corner that came
to naught.
The Flying Eagles had done a great job keeping out an
Italian team that scored three times in the opening 30 minutes against Brazil
on match day one.
Italy threatened barely seconds into the second half but
Nigeria’s defence cleared the ball off the line as it looked to trickle in
after a sweet interplay.
Nigeria reacted well and captain Bameyi stung the
goalkeeper’s palms with a stinging strike from 25 yards.
A back and forth ensued between the two teams before Nigeria
broke the deadlock on the hour mark.
A cross comes to Samson Lawal in the box and after riding a
challenge, he showed good quality to pick out Fago unmarked who then headed
into the net for the opening goal.
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