The Nigerian Golden Eaglets beat Iran 4 – 1 in a round of
16 match at the Kalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City
Tuesday.
Three-time champions Nigeria had no trouble with Iran
racking up three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1
scoreline. The result sets up a quarter-final date for the
Nigerians with Uruguay, a game in which they will likely
be missing two of their best attackers – Kalechi Iheanacho
and Success Isaac – through injury.
The Golden Eaglets came out all guns blazing in the
opening seconds. Iheanacho, who scored four goals in the
opener on this very pitch, fired a vicious shot from the
corner of the penalty area inside the first minute that only
just flew over the bar. It wasn’t long after that Chidiebere
Nwakali raced through midfield on the end of an elegant
heel flick from Zaharaddeen Bello. His shot from way out,
however, also went over the goal.
The pressure was mounting on Iran, who’d been so
sturdy up to this point in the competition. Nigeria were
attacking up both flanks and crossing dangerously, but
the storm subsided and Iran began to get some touches
on the ball. And when Nwakali tried to dribble the ball out
of defence, he was stripped by Mohammad Bazaj, whose
effort from a tight angle after 21 minutes was the Iranian’s
first chance of the half.
All that did was make the Nigerians angry. The Eaglets
were into the lead just seconds later when Musa Yahaya
pulled off an outrageous move to leave his man for dead
at the edge of the penalty area. He sent in a low diagonal
ball to Samuel Okon, who sliced in from a tight angle.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 for the Africans. Taiwo
Awoniyi, on for the injured Success Isaac, pulled the ball
across the 18-yard line for Iheanacho, who dispatched his
fifth goal of the tournament.
It would be the impressive No10’s last action, as he
pulled his hamstring shortly after and signaled for a
substitute.
Captain Musa Muhammed grabbed a third goal for Nigeria
five minutes from the interval, taking advantage of some
slack marking to burst into the area and score to make it
3-0 at the break.
The second half lacked the total attacking sparkle of the
first, but the Nigerians remained in full control. In the 78th
minute, Yahaya dropped his shoulder brilliantly again –
pulling out his signature move – before firing low into the
corner from 25 yards.
Iran managed a consolation goal six minutes from time.
Substitute Ali Gholizadeh scored from the edge of the box
with the Nigerian defenders suffering from a bit of
understandable complacency. It was clearly too little too
late for Iran though, as Nigeria’s dominant performance
will likely send a chill up the spine of Uruguay, who they
will meet in the last eight.
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