June 22, 2018 (GCDC) - Ahmed Musa and the Super Eagles exposed Iceland’s players in the second half, catching them creeping up on offense and then unleashing quick counterattacks.
Iceland, meanwhile, didn’t seem to have many strategies apart from set pieces, and those were in short supply over the final 45 minutes. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s ham-footed penalty shot didn’t help, either.
The result not only gives Nigeria a crucial three points; it also gives new life to Argentina. The two teams meet Tuesday in Nizhny-Novgorod. Iceland will need to beat Croatia to have any hope.
Game highlights
After referee Matthew Conger fails to call a penalty shot when Alfred Finnbodvarsson is taken down in the box, he goes to the replay monitor. The result: penalty shot! And then Gylfi Sigurdsson misses it high and right. The fates are not with Iceland today.
Goal!
Seconds after hitting the post, Musa takes a long outlet and meanders with the ball into the box before cutting to his right, getting Halldorsson on the ground and finishing the job in the 75th minute. 2-0 Nigeria and this one seem over.