FT: Argentina 2 - 4 Nigeria (pre-World Cup friendly)
Below is the live update of the pre-World Cup friendly between Nigeria and Argentina below;
FT: Argentina 2 - 4 Nigeria
A comeback victory for the Eagles in the eight encounter between these two sides at senior level.
Nigeria were two goals down after strikes from Banega and Aguero in the first half but Iheanacho pulled one back before half time with a curling freekick.
Iheanacho, Bryan Idowu and Iwobi completed the comeback for the Super Eagles with goals in the second half.
90' Argentina seeing more if the ball in the final moments but anything they throw at the eagles is easily dealt with
88' Freekick for Argentina as Ahmed Musa commits a fouls but the attempt from Ever Banega is well wide off the mark
87' SUB: Alex Iwobi off, Kayode Olarenwaju on
86' Nigeria attack again through Iwobi who sprints clear and puts Perez on his backside twice, before Mikel's cross is headed behind for a corner.
84' Musa does brilliantly to work space on the right from a short free-kick, but Mascherano steps in to clear the consequent cross
81' SAVE! Uzoho saves from Benedetto's header, The corner is not attacked and it rolls for a goal kick
80' WHAT A CHANCE! Ndidi meets Mikel's delivery and nods wide. That should have been five for Nigeria
78' SUB: Di Maria, Pavon off, Perotti, Rigoni on
76' What a turn around this has been! Nigeria were two goals down after strikes from Banega and Aguero in the first half but Iheanacho pulled one back before half time.
Iheanacho, Bryan Idowu and now Iwobi completed the comeback for the Super Eagles
75' Substitute Ahmed Musa finds the attacker with a cross in the box, The Arsenal man had three players surrounding him but he finds a way to nutmeg Mascherano and free himself after which he slots home
74' GOOOOOAAAALLLLL! Alex Iwobi scores his second of the day and what a goal that was
70' Sub: Kelechi Iheanacho off, Ahmed Musa on. Recall that the 25-year-old scored twice against Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
69' Corner for Argentina but Otamendi heads wide
67' Corner to Argentina as Omeruo chests Di Maria's cross behind. The corner eventually comes to nothing
64' Nigeria counter again but Otamendi steps in to halt Iheanacho. What a battle that has been!
62' Belluschi on, Dybala off...The Super Eagles playing with all kinds of swagger now. Mikel finds Iheanacho on the left but the youngster cannot beat his marker
60' SUB: Leon Balogun comes off, Kenneth Omeruo comes on
59' SAVE! Nigeria counter and Ebuechi send a drilled cross to Iheanacho who flicks but the attempt is saved.
58' SUB: Alejandro Gomez comes on for Le Celso
56' It was another nicely worked goal. Idowu got the goal, and calmly curled into the corner from Iheanacho's lay-off. What a start to the second half this has been. 2-3.
55' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL Debutant Bryan Idowu makes it 3 - 2 for Nigeria
54' What a nicely worked goal that was Iheanacho frees himself on the right and send a los cross for Iwobi whose low drive finds the bottom of the net
53' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL! Alex Iwbo scores to put the Super Eagles level
49' Corner for Nigeria taken by Iheanacho but just headed wide by Troost-Ekong
48' Argentina have also started he second half on top and have all of the possession so far
47' For Nigeria Uzoho comes on in goal ahead of Daniel Akpeyi, Ola Aina off, Bryan Idowu on, Ebuechi on in place of Shehu Abdullahi
46' Nigeria get the second half started and there is a chance for Argentina after the break.
Sergio Aguero off, Benedetto on
HT: Argentina 2 - 1 Nigeria
Ever Banega scored a freekick to put his side ahead as Argentina dominated the opening 30 minutes. Sergio Aguero made it two with a simple tap in from Pavon's cross
However Kelechi Iheanacho scored a late freekick to make it 2 - 1 as the Eagles ended the half stronger of the two sides
44' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!! Kelechi Iheanacho scores from the subsequent free kick. This is the second freekick of the game
44' Nigeria's most lively player Alex Iwobi does well to earn a freekick after he was stopped from meeting a return pass from Mikel
42' Almost! Leon Balogun miscontrols in midfield and Aguero steals the ball, feeds Dybala who finds Banega who switches to Di Maria. The PSG man's cross almost meets Aguero but it is cleared as far as Dybala who could not take a shot. the danger is thwarted.... for now....
39' That was Kun's 36th international goal. The South Americans have been on top so far
38' GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL! Sergio Aguero doubles the lead with a simple tap in from a low right wing cross from Pavon
37' Ever Banega's freekick is what seperates the two sides here in Krasnodar
36' The Super Eagles have been all all over the place in this game as Argentina have looked hungier
34' SHOT! De Celso is on the end of an attacking move and shoots just wide
33' Free header from a corner for Otamendi but the Manchester City man heads wide. Woeful marking from the Super Eagles
31' ANOTHER CHANCE for Argentina, Pavon takes out Awuziem on the right and almost finds Aguero but Akpeyi is quick to come out and hold onto the ball
29' GOOOOOAAAALLLL! Ever Banega converts the freekick and what a strike that was
28' Freekick for Argentina as Akpeyi is adjudged to have handled in the box
25' Pavon and Aguero have a clash as both players chase a pass into the box...the referee is forced to stop the game
22' Angel Di Maria does on a mazy run on the left and loops a ball for Pavon but the attacker fould Ola Aina in an attempt to head the ball
17' Kelechi Iheanacho shown a yellow card for a foul on fomer Manchester City teammate Otamendi
14' The set-piece comes in and Leon Balogun clears, but the ball looks to have struck the defender right on the top of the head. He's down receiving treatment.
9' Pavon wins a corner. Johan Ogu concedes possession in the middle of the pitch and Argentina switch the ball to Mascherano, whose long pass picks out Pavon. A shot from an awkward angle deflects behind
2' Mikel Obi wins possession but he is immediately surrounded by three players and misses out. Argentina looking to take control early on
1' Argentina get us started and immediately look to attack, Lionel Messi is not in the squad for the game
1' Here are the confirmed line-ups for the game
Nigeria XI vs Argentina: Akpeyi; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Balogun Awaziem, Shehu Abdullahi; Ndidi, Mikel, Ogu; Iwobi, Iheanacho
Argentina XI vs Nigeria: Marchesin; Mascherano, Pezzella, Otamendi; Enzo Perez, Banega, Lo Celso, Di Maria; Dybala, Pavon, Aguero
Below is the preview of the pre-World Cup friendly between Nigeria and Argentina;
- This will be the eight encounter between both teams at senior level
- Argentina have five wins while Nigeria have one win in matches between both sides
- Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain will not play while John Mikel Obi returns for Nigeria
- Match to kick off at 5.30pm Nigerian time, 7.30pm local time in Russia
Argentina will take on Nigeria in an international friendly in Krasnodar as both teams prepare for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
It will be the eighth meeting between both sides at senior level. Out of the seven previous encounters played between both sides, the South Americans have won on five occasions.
Confirmed line up:
Nigeria XI vs Argentina: Akpeyi; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Balogun Awaziem, Shehu Abdullahi; Ndidi, Mikel, Ogu; Iwobi, Iheanacho
Argentina XI vs Nigeria: Marchesin; Mascherano, Pezzella, Otamendi; Enzo Perez, Banega, Lo Celso, Di Maria; Dybala, Pavon, Aguero
The last coming at the 2014 World Cup where Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3 - 2 win for the South Americans. Ahmed Musa scored Nigeria's two goals in that game.
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Skipper Mikel who was left out of the final World cup qualifier in Algeria on Friday, will return to the starting XI against Argentina.
Lionel Messi will not play the game having featured in the Friendly against Russia on Saturday, November 11.
Kick off: 5.30pm (Nigerian time), 7.30pm (Russian local time)
Date: Tuesday, November 14
Venue: Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia
Confirmed injured/out of the game
Nigeria: Odion Ighalo, Elderson Echiejile, Mikel Agu, Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Moses and Moses Simon
Argentina: Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Mauro Icardi
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Where to watch: In the US, the match can be watched on Bein Sports
Confirmed line ups:
Nigeria: Akpeyi; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Balogun Awaziem, Shehu Abdullahi; Ndidi, Mikel, Ogu; Iwobi, Iheanacho
Argentina: Marchesin; Mascherano, Pezzella, Otamendi; Enzo Perez, Banega, Lo Celso, Di Maria; Dybala, Pavon, Aguero
Organisers say there will be maximum changes of six players per team for this match.
Nigeria Super Eagles qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup on Legit.ng TV;
Source: Legit.ng