₦airaland Forum

Restart. Korea doing same as 1st half. Trying to keep posession. They are one attack away from conceding a goal.

No nonsense defending from Onome takes us to half time. 1-0.

Finally Oshoala and referee smile at each other.

Remember Nigeria is ranked 38th and Korea ranked 14th. We are the side leading.

3 minutes to half time. This has been OK considering our defensive approach. Half time at 1-0 is a blessing.

Another corner. Okobi will take this. We dont score but got 2nd ball. We are getting some confidence now.

Our attacks are sweet considering how poor Koreans are defensively.

Can we score a corner? Afterall we concede from it...No. Uchendu cant even kick the ball well. Bless her future husband.

We are having joy anytime we attack them. Corner to Nigeria. We have this game in check.

Once you try these Korean defence, they crumble. A Nigerian coach could score 7 against them...and concede 5.

Nnadozie with another brilliant stop. She is sharp. Oluehi should NEVER start ahead of her.

O boy! we almost scored another one. Who put red bull in our water?? Corner to us.

Damn I'll take her off at half time. How can you touch a ball going into the net. Goal given ope ooooooooo

My heart....Oparanozie handled it as it was going in....shit! VAR will break my heart soon.

VAR might cancel it.....

Nigeria get a goal. Own goal by Korea as Oparanozie lurks....God is working miracles for us.

Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Another NIgerian attack. We are waking up, Ordega almost could have amde a cross into the box. We will do well if we keep attacking.

Referee blows against Oshoala again. She will chop yellow soon. The ref is fed up and Oshoala is hungry.

32 passes by Nigeria, almost 150 passes by Korea. Possession 32% to us. We are back peddaling most times. Asisat always arguing with the referee. Same referee who reffed champions league final. They both have an history.

Okobi with her first Okobiesque pass but the attack breaks down as Ebere tries too much.

Uchendu with a wild shot off target. Defensively, Korea isnt great, but when you dont attack them, you can never trouble them. Another Korea attack ends wild. Nnadozie has it covered though. I am really impressed with her so far.

20 minutes gone, we are still yet to concede, so happy days. However, Korea looking more likely to score.

KevinDein:
He is. Typical Scandinavian tactics and very "unNigerian". TBH hiring that man was a grave mistake by the NFF.

Shades of Lars Lagerbäck. Kill all attacking instincts and hope for one lucky goal. Koreans cant believe their luck. We're sitting so deep.

Nnadozie with good save. This young goalie is confident. Much better than Oluehi.

The defenders are trying to send Oshoala on her way with long balls, but so far they are overhitting it.

KevinDein:
This coach hasn't improved the team. In fact I'll argue the team has regressed. Very cowardly tactics; cede possession to the opponent, employ a mid block, win the ball and hit them on the counter. Seems the girls have too much information to digest hence their ponderous, nervy play. Can't string 3 passes.

Very annoying to watch, but after conceding 3 goals in 1st half against Norway, I cant blame him. Lets finish 1st half without conceding and hope to play in 2nd half.

Very un Nigerian style of play. All 11 players behind the ball, so defensive that even the attackers are afraid to attack. Is Dennerby too cautious in making us stay in the match?

Korea are not great in connecting attacking 3rd. So we are not troubled for now. Korea almost totally in control. Very passive play from Nigeria.

Korea have found their feet and are bossing possession. No outlet upfront with Oparanozie offering nothing exciting so far.

Corner to Korea. Zonal marking from Nigeria. We didnt concede! Glory.

Young Okeke a bit jittery but recovers well so far. So far, so balance. No unnecessary mistakes yet.

Oparanozie with a wayward pass that could have put Oshoala through on goal. You dont mess chances like that up early on. It can hurt your team.

KevinDein:
Ajibade would definitely come in later in the game...at least I wish. Her pace would be of bigger concern when the Koreans are tired. Hopefully we are still in the game by then.

I agree with you. I hope we can stay in the game for a long time, if not winning, but with a 0-0 game, we will hurt the Koreans. However, it is exciting for Nigeria that we have 2 18 year olds starting a world cup match.
We have a big big chance for a win here.

Really happy the coach is dropping players who underperform. Happy to see the back of Oluehi. She really is 3rd choice, and could have saved at least 2 goals on day 1.

A big concern is Uchendu starting. She is not up to the level of players like Ajibade. It seems the assistant coach favouritism is telling here.