Greece 2-1 Nigeria - Match report

Published: 17 Jun 2010 - 17:08:54

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Greece secured their first-ever World Cup finals victory with a 2-1 win over Nigeria in an action-packed contest in Bloemfontein.

Otto Rehhagel's men came from behind to see off the Super Eagles, who played the final hour with ten men.

A slow start to proceedings burst into life in the 16th minute as Kalu Uche's teasing ball into the area was missed by a posse of players in the penalty area and, as goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas remained rooted to the spot, the ball flew into the far corner.

With Nigeria gaining the early breakthrough, they began to stamp their mark on the game as they collected a number of corners and free-kicks in threatening positions, but the game was turned on its head just after the half-hour mark.

- As it happened

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As the ball trickled out of play on the halfway line, Vassilis Torosidis and Sani Kaita needlessly clashed.

The Nigeria midfielder appeared to raise his boot to Torosidis and Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz dished out a red card, much to Kaita's bemusement.

His dismissal breathed life into the Greeks and Sotirios Kyrgiakos nodded wide before Dimitrios Salpingidis was thwarted by Vincent Enyeama in the Nigeria goal.

However, the impressive wideman was not to be denied as his deflected strike brought the sides level just before the interval.

His strike from outside the penalty was diverted into the far corner by the unfortunate Lukman Haruna as Greece restored parity.

Greece turned the screw in the second period as a number of saves from Enyeama stopped them in their tracks.

The game exploded into life on the hour as Theofanis Gekas failed to convert from close range as Enyeama kept him out and, as Nigeria broke clear, Yakubu had his effort saved and Chinedu Obasi failed to slot into the empty net from the rebound.

Substitute Georgios Samaras was denied as his flicked header was expertly stopped by Enyeama, but he was at fault as Greece grabbed a crucial second.

He failed to hold Alexandros Tziolis' effort from distance, leaving the spring-heeled Torosidis to stab home from six yards.

Greece continued to force the issue late in the day and, as Nigeria pressed forward, it opened up gaps at the back.

The highly-rated Sotirios Ninis made his way into the action and he linked well with Samaras, Torosidis and talismanic captain Giorgos Karagounis in the closing stages.