A penalty from Liverpool's Victor Moses and a stunning free-kick from Victor Obinna secured Nigeria's place at the World Cup finals in Brazil at the expense of Ethiopia.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg, the Super Eagles became Africa's first qualifiers with a comfortable win in Calabar on Saturday afternoon.
The decisive moment came after 19 minutes when Ethiopia defender Aynalem Hailu was adjudged to have handled in the box.
It was a little harsh, but Moses, at Anfield currently on loan from Chelsea, was unfazed as he sent goalkeeper Sisay Bancha the wrong way from the spot.
Moses has form against Ethiopia - he converted two penalties when the sides met at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Despite a number of good chances, it took Nigeria until eight minutes from time to absolutely make sure when Lokomotiv Moscow frontman Obinna blasted in a swerving free-kick from 30 yards just seconds after coming on as a substitute for Moses.
The ball moved viciously in the air though Bancha will feel he should have blocked it.
Having seized the initiative late on in the first leg, thanks to an Emmanuel Emenike penalty, Nigeria continued the momentum in the early stages.
Fenerbahce man Emenike forced a good save from Bancha with a close-range shot inside the opening minutes, while Celtic defender Efe Ambrose fired high and wide from the edge of the penalty box.
Moses then put away his penalty, though he was booked for removing his shirt during the celebrations.
Posted by Emanto Ngaloru Nov, 16, 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment