Three-time champions Nigeria opened
their 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign on
Saturday with a 6-1 thumping of twice
champions and title-holders Mexico in Al Ain
City. In the opening Group F match at the
competition holding in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), the Golden Eaglets overcame a
nervous start to go top of the group The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
Nigeria now lead the group with three points
and a +5 goals difference from one match,
ahead of Sweden and Iraq. The Mexicans were unable to take advantage of
their opponents’ trepidation, as striker Ulises
Jaimes had a chance to score with his head
after only three minutes. But the Nigerian defence deflected the ball
wide of danger to get a respite until after about
30 minutes when the Eaglets settled into their
rhythm. After 33 minutes, the Eaglets followed on a
counter-attack for Success Isaac to race in and
round the goalkeeper, before pulling the ball
back across goal. Kelechi Iheanacho followed the play with a
clever finish, hitting the ball high into the net
over a pair of Mexican defenders. Seven minutes later, the Eaglets scored again,
after Isaac crossed from the left following a
fast-break. Iheanacho kept his cool to cut inside, showing
great patience to drift past two defenders and
slam into the side netting. But the Eaglets’ enthusiasm got the better of
them as they conceded a goal a minute later,
after failing to clear their lines. The ball fell kindly in the goal area for Jaimes
who rounded his marker to score with a low
shot to the corner. However, Iheanacho claimed his hat-trick four
minutes into the second-half, slamming home
a low and hard shot at the near post after a
flick-on from a long throw-in. Chidiebere Nwakali made it 4-1 three minutes
later with a shot from 25 yards out, while Isaac
made it 5-1 on the hour mark when he raced on
to a through-ball. He waltzed past two tired and devastated
Mexican defenders before firing inside the
near post from 12 yards out. Iheanacho cut in from the right side after 70
minutes to strike from a long way out to make
it 6-1. NAN reports that Nigeria will face debutants
Sweden in their next match on Tuesday, Oct. 22
at the same Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium venue.
(NAN)
their 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign on
Saturday with a 6-1 thumping of twice
champions and title-holders Mexico in Al Ain
City. In the opening Group F match at the
competition holding in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), the Golden Eaglets overcame a
nervous start to go top of the group The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
Nigeria now lead the group with three points
and a +5 goals difference from one match,
ahead of Sweden and Iraq. The Mexicans were unable to take advantage of
their opponents’ trepidation, as striker Ulises
Jaimes had a chance to score with his head
after only three minutes. But the Nigerian defence deflected the ball
wide of danger to get a respite until after about
30 minutes when the Eaglets settled into their
rhythm. After 33 minutes, the Eaglets followed on a
counter-attack for Success Isaac to race in and
round the goalkeeper, before pulling the ball
back across goal. Kelechi Iheanacho followed the play with a
clever finish, hitting the ball high into the net
over a pair of Mexican defenders. Seven minutes later, the Eaglets scored again,
after Isaac crossed from the left following a
fast-break. Iheanacho kept his cool to cut inside, showing
great patience to drift past two defenders and
slam into the side netting. But the Eaglets’ enthusiasm got the better of
them as they conceded a goal a minute later,
after failing to clear their lines. The ball fell kindly in the goal area for Jaimes
who rounded his marker to score with a low
shot to the corner. However, Iheanacho claimed his hat-trick four
minutes into the second-half, slamming home
a low and hard shot at the near post after a
flick-on from a long throw-in. Chidiebere Nwakali made it 4-1 three minutes
later with a shot from 25 yards out, while Isaac
made it 5-1 on the hour mark when he raced on
to a through-ball. He waltzed past two tired and devastated
Mexican defenders before firing inside the
near post from 12 yards out. Iheanacho cut in from the right side after 70
minutes to strike from a long way out to make
it 6-1. NAN reports that Nigeria will face debutants
Sweden in their next match on Tuesday, Oct. 22
at the same Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium venue.
(NAN)
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