Nigeria 2-0 Ivory Coast
The Nigerian Olympic Squad continues to impress, shrugging off the Ivory Coast to book a semi-final date with Belgium...
Nigeria were victorious in Qinhuangdao, winning the battle of the African sides as they downed the Ivorians 2-0. Peter Odemwingie and Victor Obinna were on the scoresheet.
The Nigerians started brightly but Peter Odemwingie and Victor Nsofor Obinna both lacked composure when presented with clear opportunities, scuffing their efforts off-target.
Once things settled down, though, it was a rather dull affair for a majority of the first half. The goalkeepers were virtual spectators as the game became bogged down in the midfield area.
However, it was Nigeria who broke the stalemate with just a minute left in the half. Odemwingie's first-time blast left Ivory Coast goalkeeper Vincent Angban with no chance and it was 1-0 at the interval.
A desperate Ivory Coast began to take more risks in the second half. Salomon Kalou's effort sailed wide before Emannuel Kone's set piece was well saved by Nigerian 'keeper Ambruse Vanzekin.
As the clock counted down, Nigeria found themselves with more counterattacking opportunities. One of them resulted in a penalty on 81 minutes, when Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi was brought down in the box by Souleymane Bamba.
Chievo striker Obinna stepped up confidently and made no mistake, dispatching the ball in the top right-hand corner of the net to seal victory.
Nigeria now face Belgium, who knocked out Italy in their quarter-final match, in Shanghai. It should be a fascinating affair.
The Nigerians started brightly but Peter Odemwingie and Victor Nsofor Obinna both lacked composure when presented with clear opportunities, scuffing their efforts off-target.
Once things settled down, though, it was a rather dull affair for a majority of the first half. The goalkeepers were virtual spectators as the game became bogged down in the midfield area.
However, it was Nigeria who broke the stalemate with just a minute left in the half. Odemwingie's first-time blast left Ivory Coast goalkeeper Vincent Angban with no chance and it was 1-0 at the interval.
A desperate Ivory Coast began to take more risks in the second half. Salomon Kalou's effort sailed wide before Emannuel Kone's set piece was well saved by Nigerian 'keeper Ambruse Vanzekin.
As the clock counted down, Nigeria found themselves with more counterattacking opportunities. One of them resulted in a penalty on 81 minutes, when Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi was brought down in the box by Souleymane Bamba.
Chievo striker Obinna stepped up confidently and made no mistake, dispatching the ball in the top right-hand corner of the net to seal victory.
Nigeria now face Belgium, who knocked out Italy in their quarter-final match, in Shanghai. It should be a fascinating affair.
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44′ [1 - 0] P. Odemwingie
81′ [2 - 0] V.N. Obinna (pen.)
