Nigeria 2-2 Scotland; Scotland have to settle for a draw as Nigeria snatch late equaliser
For Scotland these are unexpected times, even if they squandered a
fifth victory in six at the death here. Gordon Strachan’s side performed
well against a Nigeria team that will soon be flying out to the World
Cup and provided further hope that the wilderness years are drawing to
an end. For the Super Eagles, their fans danced jubilantly as Uche
Nwofor swept in a late equaliser, but there is work to be done before
Brazil.
In fairness to Stephen Keshi, the Nigeria manager, this was an experimental evening during which their big hitters were either absent or watched the majority of the match from the dugout. It was a chance for the reserves to stake a claim for a golden ticket, yet few managed to even open the wrapper.
Michael Uchebo was one, and it was his deflected strike that cancelled out a superb piece of early improvisation from Charlie Mulgrew before an own goal from Azubuike Egwuekwe swung things back in Scotland’s favour.
How Strachan would love to be preparing his side to face Iran, Bosnia Herzegovina and Argentina this summer instead of Nigeria. He can take great solace from the performance here, though, on a night when Scotland blooded two youngsters, Andrew Robertson making his first start and Craig Forsyth his debut.
The Nigeria players, hoping to impress Stephen Keshi and secure themselves a ticket to Brazil, did not start well. In fact, the defence, which included Joseph Yobo at centre-half, were all over the place. Keshi rested several of his key players and selected a second-string side that included Shola Ameobi in attack while Efe Ambrose, Peter Odemwingie and Victor Moses sat on the bench.
Scotland sensed the vulnerability amid the carnival atmosphere and it was a man whose international career could have been played out in the green of the Super Eagles who tore them apart time and again. Ikechi Anya, the Watford attacker, made his Scotland debut in September although he has a Nigerian father and could have been preparing for a first World Cup.
Nigeria’s defence of Yobo, Kunle Odunlami, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Elderson Echiéjilé looked ragged, with Anya and the single striker for Scotland, Steven Naismith, finding space with regularity.
Uchebo eventually found his way past McGregor four minutes before half-time, but not before Scotland had demonstrated qualities of their own.
Strachan’s side took the lead in the 10th minute through Mulgrew, who expertly flicked Morrison’s shot over the goalkeeper Austine Ejide when the initial effort was flying wide. Ejide stood helpless as the ball looped over his head.
Ameobi fizzed a vicious left-foot volley straight at McGregor before Nigeria equalised, through another deflection. The ball fell to Uchebo in midfield and then the tall striker ran into space before pulling the trigger and watching the ball hit Hanley, wrong-foot McGregor and eventually sail into the net.
Chris Martin replaced Naismith at half-time and provided Scotland with a more direct option in attack. He linked well with Anya, Morrison and Shaun Maloney, and eventually the pressure told.
Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle United, had a rare chance at the other end following some impressive endeavour from Uchebo, the ball running to the striker inside the penalty area but McGregor saving low down with his feet. Scotland, however, regained the lead in the 52nd minute, Egwuekwe putting past his own goalkeeper following an excellent run and cross from Hutton down the right and with the defender under pressure from Morrison. Odunlami stretched on the line but could only send the ball crashing into the net.
The substitutions began to flow and the chances continued to come, with neither defence covering themselves in glory.
Nigeria rallied as the match drew to a close and equalised in the 90th minute, Nwofor capitalizing on some woeful defending from Hanley to sweep in from close range.
In fairness to Stephen Keshi, the Nigeria manager, this was an experimental evening during which their big hitters were either absent or watched the majority of the match from the dugout. It was a chance for the reserves to stake a claim for a golden ticket, yet few managed to even open the wrapper.
Michael Uchebo was one, and it was his deflected strike that cancelled out a superb piece of early improvisation from Charlie Mulgrew before an own goal from Azubuike Egwuekwe swung things back in Scotland’s favour.
How Strachan would love to be preparing his side to face Iran, Bosnia Herzegovina and Argentina this summer instead of Nigeria. He can take great solace from the performance here, though, on a night when Scotland blooded two youngsters, Andrew Robertson making his first start and Craig Forsyth his debut.
The Nigeria players, hoping to impress Stephen Keshi and secure themselves a ticket to Brazil, did not start well. In fact, the defence, which included Joseph Yobo at centre-half, were all over the place. Keshi rested several of his key players and selected a second-string side that included Shola Ameobi in attack while Efe Ambrose, Peter Odemwingie and Victor Moses sat on the bench.
Scotland sensed the vulnerability amid the carnival atmosphere and it was a man whose international career could have been played out in the green of the Super Eagles who tore them apart time and again. Ikechi Anya, the Watford attacker, made his Scotland debut in September although he has a Nigerian father and could have been preparing for a first World Cup.
Nigeria’s defence of Yobo, Kunle Odunlami, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Elderson Echiéjilé looked ragged, with Anya and the single striker for Scotland, Steven Naismith, finding space with regularity.
Uchebo eventually found his way past McGregor four minutes before half-time, but not before Scotland had demonstrated qualities of their own.
Strachan’s side took the lead in the 10th minute through Mulgrew, who expertly flicked Morrison’s shot over the goalkeeper Austine Ejide when the initial effort was flying wide. Ejide stood helpless as the ball looped over his head.
Ameobi fizzed a vicious left-foot volley straight at McGregor before Nigeria equalised, through another deflection. The ball fell to Uchebo in midfield and then the tall striker ran into space before pulling the trigger and watching the ball hit Hanley, wrong-foot McGregor and eventually sail into the net.
Chris Martin replaced Naismith at half-time and provided Scotland with a more direct option in attack. He linked well with Anya, Morrison and Shaun Maloney, and eventually the pressure told.
Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle United, had a rare chance at the other end following some impressive endeavour from Uchebo, the ball running to the striker inside the penalty area but McGregor saving low down with his feet. Scotland, however, regained the lead in the 52nd minute, Egwuekwe putting past his own goalkeeper following an excellent run and cross from Hutton down the right and with the defender under pressure from Morrison. Odunlami stretched on the line but could only send the ball crashing into the net.
The substitutions began to flow and the chances continued to come, with neither defence covering themselves in glory.
Nigeria rallied as the match drew to a close and equalised in the 90th minute, Nwofor capitalizing on some woeful defending from Hanley to sweep in from close range.
Comments
Post a Comment