Musa double downs Iceland to keep Nigeria’s World Cup dream alive
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Updated 22/06/2018 at 18:14 GMT
World Cup, Group D – Nigeria 2 (Musa 49’, 75’) Iceland 0
Ahmend Musa
Image credit: Getty Images
A second-half salvo from Ahmed Musa saw Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 at the Volgograd Arena and keep their World Cup dream alive.
The Super Eagles put in a disjointed showing in their opening match against Croatia, but posed far more threat against Iceland and took the lead when a scything counterattack was finished off by an emphatic Musa strike as he plucked the ball out of the air from Victor Moses' cross and fired the ball past Hannes Halldórsson.
And the 25-year-old Musa, who was brought into the side to replace Alex Iwobi, added a second on 75 minutes to spark wild celebrations as he finished in an open net having rounded Halldórsson after beating Kári Árnason for pace.
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Nigeria's forward Ahmed Musa (C) avoids Iceland's goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson on his way to score their second goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Nigeria and Iceland at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 22, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Iceland had the chance to get back into the game when the involvement of VAR saw a penalty given with just nine minutes left on the clock. But the usually reliable Gylfi Sigurdsson sent his spot-kick sailing over the bar to leave Iceland needing a win over Croatia in their final group game to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Meanwhile Nigeria go into their match with Argentina knowing that a win will see them through to the next round.
TALKING POINT
Nigeria have to stick with 3-5-2. When Nigeria lined up with four at the back against Croatia most observers couldn't understand Gernot Rhor's reasoning. He had moved to three at the back in the second-half of the warm-up friendly against England and they had outplayed their opponents at Wembley. Against Croatia they looked flat and whilst they struggled to get going offensively in the first-half against Iceland they were so much better defensively.
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Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia.
Image credit: Getty Images
In the second-half as the players got used to the system they started to take control and Musa combined brilliantly with Kelechi Iheanacho to cause Iceland real problems at the back. The system also works better for captain John Obi Mikel as there is not so much creative onus on him and he can drop deeper to help out when Wilfred Ndidi pushes up.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) What a return to form for the Leicester City man. He went back to CSKA Moscow on loan this year and he has announced his arrival at the World Cup. His pace puts him in a very select group of players who can single-handedly change games and terrorise defences. He is now Nigeria's top scorer at World Cups with four and whilst he doesn't always get it right but when he does it's absolutely breath-taking to watch.
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Ahmed Musa
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Nigeria - Uzoho 7, Balogun 6, Ekong 5, Omeruo 7, Ndidi 7, Etebo 6, Moses 7, Idowu 6, Musa 8, Iheanacho 6. Subs: Ebuehi 5, Ighalo 5, Iwobi 5.
Iceland - Halldórsson 5, Saevarsson 6, Arnason 4, Sigurdsson 5, Magnússon 5, Gunnarsson 5, Sigurdsson 4, Bjarnason 5, Gíslason 6, Bödvarsson 4, Finnbogason 5. Subs: Skúlason 5, Sigurdarson 5, Ingason 5
KEY MOMENTS
45' - Wonderful ball from Sigurdsson! It's hard to know how that hasn't gone in. Finnbogason nearly gets his head on it and that is probably the closest Iceland have come.
49' - GOAL! NIGERIA 1-0 ICELAND (AHMED MUSA) Lift-off for Nigeria! They've started so well in this half and they get their goal. They break from an Iceland throw, Moses clips the ball into Musa who takes it out of the air and slams it home. Wonderful, wonderful goal.
74' - BAR! Terrific effort from Musa from the edge of the area. It's swerving and dipping and beats Halldórsson. Luckily for the Iceland keeper it rattles the bar.
75' - GOAL! NIGERIA 2-0 ICELAND (MUSA) Oh that is just magnificent! Having just hit the bar Musa changes down a clearance, beats Arnason, skips past Halldórsson and fires home.
83' - OVER! Wow. Gylfi Sigurdsson has blazed his penalty over the bar. You do not see that often.
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Gylfi Sigurdsson of Iceland shoots the penalty over the bar during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Francis Uzoho (19 years and 237 days old) is the second youngest goalkeeper in history to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup; only Li Chan-Myong was younger.
- Ahmed Musa (Four) is now Nigeria's top scorer at World Cups.
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