Nigeria draw with Mexico

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Saturday, June 1st, 2013

John Ogu scored in his first start for Nigeria, but Javier Hernandez denied him the chance of making it a winner as Nigeria drew 2-2 in a friendly with Mexico on Friday night.

Both sides are preparing for 2014 World Cup qualifiers as well as the Fifa Confederations Cup next month and were using the game as tune-up.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has made it clear he intended to look over some prospects, and his starting line-up suggested he was.

The former captain handed starts to Joseph Akpala, Nnamdi Oduamadi and John Ogu with second choice goalkeeper Austin Ejide picked ahead of stand-in skipper Vincent Enyeama.

After a frantic start in which Mexico pressed and Nigeria creaked at the back, birthday boy Chicharito popped up to steer home from Pablo Barreto’s low, driven cross on 21 minutes.

Nigeria left back Elderson Echiejile had been enduring a pasting from the Mexican winger, and that goal could have come earlier, when Chicharito rattled the cross bar from a similar cross after Barreto had skinned Echiejile.

The lead did not last long. A superb combination play from Nigeria saw them carve their way into the box, Nnamdi Oduamadi’s backhoes found Joseph Akpala whose initial shot was saved by Corona.

The rebound befell to Oduamadi, but Barreto blocked his effort with his hand to earn himself a straight red card and concede a penalty.

Ideye took responsibility and dispatched the spot kick expertly.

Five minutes before halftime, Oguwas in dreamland. Fed a short ball by the equally impressive Efe Ambrose, the Academica midfielder let fly from distance.

His shot took a deflection off a Mexican defender to leave Corona stranded, and put Nigeria 2-1 up.

But it was the Mexicans who looked like they had the extra man in the second period, as both sides made subs with an eye on an impending series of gruelling fixtures.

And it was Chicharito again who arrived at the near post to stab past Enyeama from Salcido’s cross, another low, driven one.

There was a suspicion of offside though, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Mexico finished the much stronger of the two sides, but a share of the spoils will leave both coaches pleased, although Keshi will have to worry about what looked like a hamstring strain to John Ogu.

Article by: Colin Udoh
-KicoffNigeriawp_posts