[ 2011-06-02 ]

Nigeria 4-1 Argentina
Nigeria dominated from start to finish as they
handed out a humiliating reverse to an Argentina
side composed primarily of Under-25 prospects in
Abuja. Two goals from Ike Uche in the first-half
helped leave the Albiceleste in disarray by
half-time as they went in three goals down; Obinna
also hit from the penalty spot in the first-half,
while Emanuel Emenike put the icing on the cake
with a delightful lobbed finish minutes after the
restart.

Mauro Boselli in turn converted a penalty eight
minutes into injury time for Argentina, given in
bizarre circumstances with the game already over
by far.

In truth it was a deeply disappointing performance
from the South Americans, who were out-run,
out-thought and out-played by their opponents for
almost the entire match. The decision of coach
Sergio Batista to name his Copa America squad just
18 hours before kick off must be questioned, as
with the vast majority of this team left out of
the tournament the Seleccion looked lacklustre and
lacked motivation against the tireless Super
Eagles.

After a few bright moments in the opening minutes,
an inexperienced Argentina team looked hopelessly
out-classed against the hosts, who time and again
marauded down the flanks and ripped apart the away
team. Taye Taiwo and Joel Obi in particular took
pleasure in torturing full backs Pablo Zabaleta
and Emiliano Insua, and the opening goal did not
take long to arrive.

Obi was not checked as he made it to the goal line
on the right hand side, and Uche was on hand to
hit home with a shot that took a generous
deflection on its way into the net. The Super
Eagles were ahead after just 10 minutes, and
Adrian Gabbarini had to stretch to tip over a
cross-shot from Victor Anichebe to avoid the
scoreline being doubled.

The second goal was on its way, however, albeit in
controversial circumstances. Federico Fazio did
not appear to do much wrong in the area as he
stopped a Nigerian attacker in his tracks after 27
minutes; but referee Ibrahim Chaibou disagreed,
and a penalty was given which Obinna had no
problem converting.

Just 40 minutes in the Albiceleste found
themselves staring at a humiliating thrashing,
when pitiful defending allowed Uche to convert
Taiwo's cross for the third. The South Americans
trudged off the field at half-time, while Nigeria
showed their confidence when Anichebe was
withdrawn even before the break in a statement of
their total dominance on the pitch.

Seconds after the break it appeared that Nigeria
would add a fourth, as a counter attack left
Emanuel Emenike one on one with Gabbarini only to
be denied by the Independiente number 1.
Argentina's best chance of the match thus far then
arrived; a stinging free kick from Bolatti took a
deflection on the way through but pinged back off
Vincent Enyeama's right-hand post.

The attempt proved to be just a slight blip in the
trajectory of the game, as a fourth hit the back
of the net for the Africans minutes later. With
the defence nowhere to be seen Emenike was once
again left facing the keeper, and this time made
no mistake as he lifted the ball over the stranded
keeper to twist the knife further into Sergio
Batista's charges.

Both sides rung the changes with the result
long-assured for the home team, and the final 35
minutes of the fixture passed with little to
encourage Argentina fans happening out on the
pitch. The final minutes, however, passed in
bizarre circumstances. The referee gave a
non-existent handball in favour of Argentina with
no less than eight minutes stoppage time played,
and Mauro Boselli sent Enyeama the wrong way to
give his side a consolation hardly worthy of the
word.

With just two players- Ezequiel Garay and
Zabaleta- included in the Copa America squad named
yesterday there is little reason to draw
conclusions on the Albiceleste's chances from this
painful beating. But the young guns hoping to
become first-teamers of the future were handed a
lesson in international football from their more
experienced, more physical and savvy rivals on
Wednesday evening.

Source - Goal.com

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