FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°10
Nigeria, inspired by the insistent beat of their supporters’ drums, Saturday scored a memorable World Cup victory over powerful Spain.Midfielder Sunday Oliseh found the net with a long-range shot with 12 minutes remaining to lift the Nigerians to a remarkable 3-2 win in the opening World Cup Group D match for both teams.
It was a triumph that set off a frenzy of noise and tribal dancing from the massed Nigerian fans and on the evidence of an enthralling encounter at the La Beaujoire Stadium much more will be heard from both teams at the tournament. Nigeria trailed 2-1 with just 16 minutes left but then struck twice within four minutes to sink a Spanish side that lost for only the fourth time in the six-year reign of coach Javier Clemente.
The Nigerians, who had lost their last three warm-up games and conceded 12 goals in the process, were a team transformed. They played with a pace and passion reminiscent of their gold medal performance at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. ” I’m so happy for all the people of Nigeria and for my players, “ said the team’s Yugoslav coach Bora Milutinovic, who wore traditional Nigerian costume to the post-match press conference. ” I’m ecstatic and it is an emotional moment because I didn’t really expect it. The players fought for all the game and they showed excellent concentration against a very tough team. “ But Milutinovic warned much more work remains to be done. ” This is only one step, “ he said. ” Our luck is in now, but we know we need at least five points to qualify for the second round. “
Spain took the first-half lead through a Fernando Hierro free-kick but Nigeria levelled almost immediatly through a header from Mutiu Adepoju. Raul then put Spain back in front with a splended 47th-minute goal only for the Nigerians to break the hearts of the Spaniards, perennial under-achievers on the World Cup stage. First Garba Lawal’s angled shot, horribly fumbled by veteran goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, brought Spain level and then Oliseh struck the winner.
It was hard to believe this was the same Nigerian side that was said to have been devastated earlier in the week at the death of President Sani Abacha and whose coach was one defeat away from being sacked. The Spaniards took the lead after 21 minutes when Hierro managed to strike his free-kick from 22 metres out past both the Nigerian wall and helpless goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who looked poorly positioned.
Four minutes later, however, the Nigerians were back on even terms with a gem of a goal. Lawal took a corner on the right and, as Hierro mistimed his jump, Mutiu Adepoju was able to steer his direct header high into the net despite the gallant goalline efforts of Alberto Ferrer.
The Spaniards were clearly rattled by a barrage of attacks and Zubizarreta rushed recklessly out of his area to clear just before the break. It was a remarkable turn around in fortunes after the Spaniards, looking quick and clever up front, had taken a stranglehold on the early proceedings. Raul had a superb shot on the turn stopped one-handed by Rufai after a few seconds and Raul, completely unmarked, directed a looping header onto the crossbar after Ferrer whipped in a clever cross.
The Spaniards were able to pull the Nigerians this way and that, but looked far less impressive when forced backwards. Twice Ikpeba, thriving in the damp, slippery conditions, tested Zubizarreta before the Spaniards opened the scoring. Raul looked as if he had put Spain back in command with a goal of beauty and simplicity just two minutes into the second half. Hierro, a majestic figure in midfield, ripped a giant hole in the Nigerian defence with a superb through ball and Raul, a prodigious talent at just 20, surged into the area to hook a left foot shot into the net past the static Rufai. The Spaniards may have thought they had done enough, but the Nigerians felt differently.
The equaliser, though, was the result of a horrendous error by veteran Zubizarreta, the 36-year-old playing in his 124th international. Lawal slipped his defender and took the ball to the Spanish goalline. Zubizarreta had come off his line to cut the cross out only to see the ball come behind him. Diving to grab it, he instead knocked it into his own goal. It was just the boost the Nigerians needed, however, and Oliseh sealed the win when he unleased a tremendous swerving half-volley from just outside the area that sqeezed inside the right post giving Zubizarreta no chance. Ajax Amsterdam ace Oliseh said the win was a reward for a lot of hard work. ” It is just great after all the work we put in, “ he said. ” We’ve worked very, very hard to get to this stage. It’s been as hard for us any team but we know we have our whole country behind us. “
Spanish coach Clemente, who sat with his head in his hands as the Spaniards searched for a late game-saver, was clearly stunned.” It was a very difficult game for us, and a very difficult result to take, “ he said. ” You can’t take anything away from Bora’s team. They scored three goals, which is always hard to do at this level. ”