₦airaland Forum

[color=#1986BC] Oshimen doing a good job, harrying and pressing the Ivory coast from the front... Simon in, Chukwueze out .[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Zaidu wins a tussle for a corner kick but Ref flags it for a free kick at a dangerous area...The freekick is taken but comes to nothing. Play is recycled for Ivory coast and they attack the right wing of Nigeria, Adingra drops a shoulder and beats aina for speed while driving into the box from the wing, he tries a shot but Nwabili puts a strong hand and ball is pushed into a crowd of players in the box. A shot is pinged at the goal net with Nwabili already out on the ground but it is smothered by a foot from Calvin Bassey and Nwabili will recover and get his hands on the ball..[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Second half...Game on. [/color]

[color=#1986BC]A quick rehash of the goal....The Corner was taken with so many movements and battles in the box, the corner is pinged towards the near side where Calvin Bassey and Lookman are battling with their markers, somehow Calvin wins his tussle and manages a flick on towards the center of the box where Serge Aurier had all the time to clear out the ball. But he couldn't sight, at his blind spot behind him,Troost Ekong approaching with speed and jumping power to fight and crash a header into the far side of the net.. [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Nigeria with play in the midfield and Iwobi tries a searching pass to an onrushing Zaidu,but he is sarcastically knocked down and ref does nothing....Play continues with Ivory coast putting pressure on Nigeria in the midfield....A strong shot is put out, but Nwabili will smother the ball with confidence, if you look well, it seems he is smiling. A very cool and calm presence in the box....Now Ref blows for halftime.[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Excellent wingplay from the Ivory coast on the wing but Nwabili comes out quick enough to snuff out proceedings [/color]

iichidodo:
[color=#1986BC] Ivory coast conceeds the ball in the midfield and Iwobi lofts the ball to an onrushing Zaidu, who tries a pull back but is blocked for a corner.....Corner is taken, there's an aerial tussle which troost Ekong wins and Chukwueze bundles the second ball into the Net..... GOOOOOOAAAALLL!! [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Chukwueze wasn't able to get the ball, so it's ruled as a goal for Captain Troost Ekong .[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Ivory coast conceeds the ball in the midfield and Iwobi lofts the ball to an onrushing Zaidu, who tries a pull back but is blocked for a corner.....Corner is taken, there's an aerial tussle which troost Ekong wins and Chukwueze bundles the second ball into the Net..... GOOOOOOAAAALLL!! [/color]

[color=#1986BC] What a Save !!! Nwabili executes a stunning save from the tricky, slicky winger Adingra, who was through on goal after a fine pass from the midfield...[/color]

[color=#1986BC]Coach Pesiero is booked for agitation.. [/color]

[color=#1986BC]A kick out from the Nigerian defence finds Oshimen on an aerial tussle with his marker, the second ball drops to Lookman but is fouled.... Meanwhile Oshimen kick-starts a mass brawl as he is unhappy with the marking.. [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Lookman receives the ball the midfield and tries to take the ball to the wing but is setupon by several Ivory Coast players and wins a freekick....It's taken but nothing comes out of it[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Zaidu misplace a backheader for a corner kick against Nigeria....It's taken and there's a aerial tussle that allows max gradel tries a bicycle kick which hits the side netting...[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Penalty shoot out....My take? Nigeria wins the shoot out as South Africa themselves ain't good at PKs plus it is statistically impossible for a goalie to save 4 PKs consecutivly in two matches....[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Terrem Moffi released on goal but is brought down .. Although initially ref was reluctant to call it but for VAR..... Free kick with Red card [/color]

[color=#1986BC]Penalllltyyyyy!!!!!! [/color]

[color=#1986BC]Moffi is relaeased through on goal but is brought down? Penalty? [/color]

[color=#1986BC]Oshimen meets a sweet cross from the midfield and heads narrowly over... [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Monster play from Bassey, as he shields off a SA attacks and Nigeria will attack. Luokman drops a shoulder to beat his man in the midfield before dropping it off for Oshimen. His blazing shot was taken one time and the SA goalie does fantastically well to hold on to it [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Monster play from Ajayi as he tussles with the SA attacker through on goal and beats him down...Now Nigeria will attack on the left, a shot is struck and it hits the bar with SA goalie well beaten.[/color]

[color=#1986BC] SA putting pressure on Nigeria as they combine on the left to drive their way out into the box but play is cleared, now Nigeria conceeds a freekick at a dangerous area...It's taken but SA misses a sitter, as Nwabili dives well enough to save the initial shot but the spill over is shunted over the bar with the net wide open...[/color]

[color=#1986BC]And South Africa scores their PK... [/color]

iichidodo:
[color=#1986BC] GOOOOOOAAAALLL!!!!!!!!! Beautiful counter from Nigeria and Oshimen will tap into an open net ... [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Scratch that, goal was cancelled and pk given to SA for an infringement [/color]

[color=#1986BC] GOOOOOOAAAALLL!!!!!!!!! Beautiful counter from Nigeria and Oshimen will tap into an open net ... [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Excellent play from the SA no 9 Zulu to drop and receive the box at the edge of the box then drops a shoulder to beat two Nigerian players, but his angled shot misses narrowly with Nwabili clutching at straws [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Oshimen relishing his role as a target man with his combination play with Chukwueze but the ball is played into touch...[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Oshimen giving a great account of himself as he makes nuisance of the SA defence beating players left, right and center..[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Penalty!!!! Beautiful target man play from Oshimen as he drops deep to pick the ball then beats 1,2,3 players...Then drives into box and is hauled down....Ekongs takes it..Gooooooooaaaaaaall!!!!!!!!![/color]

[color=#1986BC]Fine attacking play from Nigeria on the SA right and as Aina combines with lookman, who tries to drives in the box but is herded out then play is rolled to Onyeka who balloons the ball over....Iwobi out, Yusuf in...Simon out, Chukwueze in [/color]

[color=#1986BC] Oshimen misses a sitter of a header from a fine exquisite cross by Samuel...[/color]

[color=#1986BC] Simon does well to get a throwing into the box but it's snuffed out, now Onyeka will battle in the midfield in the midst of SA players but outnumbered and SA will attack and beat the Nigeria offside trap then Nwabili drops almost to midfield to stop the attack.. [/color]

[color=#1986BC] SA tries to break with a fine through pass from midfield but Ekong reads it well enough to snuff the danger..[/color]