Argentina Defeats Nigeria 3 – 1

Today Nigeria suffered a terrible defeat against a formidable Argentine side that fielded some of its best players. The match was played in Dhaka, Bangladesh in the mid-hours of the day. Argentina enjoyed ball possession particularly in the first 45 minutes with star attraction Lionel Messi very central in their revenge win. He created two of his team’s goals, while Efe Ambrose put the ball through his own net for the South Americans’ third goal.

In the 24th minute, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain controlled a first-time pass by Messi right inside the box before he fired home the opening goal of the rematch. Two minutes later, Messi robbed Mikel of the ball in the middle of the pitch, before he ghosted past four Nigerian markers. His shot was slowed down by a diving goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba only for Angel di Maria to easily tap home the rebound for the second goal.

Coach Samson Siasia threw in Ahmed Musa and Chinedu Obasi into the fray for the restart and Nigeria were promptly rewarded three minutes after the break when Obasi fired home off a Mikel cross from the left. It was an own goal by Efe Ambrose. Just when it seemed the Eagles defence had shut out Higuain inside the box, the ball came off the body of the Israel-based central defender to give the South Americans a two-goal cushion.- PMnews

The match is a sweet revenge for Argentina as they were humbled by the Eagles in a 4-1 victory on the 1st of June 2011, the last time the both teams clashed. A fair appraisal of today’s match however suggests that though the Eagles lost 3 – 1 to a better side, they did not put on an embarrasing performance as their was missing some of its finest players such as  Enyeama, Yobo, Taiwo, Ayila, Anichebe and Osaze.