The Flying Eagles of Nigeria kept their U-20 World Cup hopes alive on Friday with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia in a Group F encounter at the Fiscal Stadium in Chile.
A stoppage-time penalty calmly converted by captain Daniel Bameyi proved decisive, capping off a tense contest that saw Nigeria twice surrender the lead.
The midnight kickoff saw Aliyu Zubair’s side bounce back from a disappointing opening loss to Norway. Goals from Nasiru Salihu and Amos Ochoche had put Nigeria ahead on two occasions, but defensive lapses allowed Saudi Arabia to equalize both times.
In the dying minutes, a handball in the box gave the Flying Eagles a lifeline, and Bameyi stepped up to secure all three points with a composed finish from the spot.
Then Kparobo Arierhi failed to convert with only the goalkeeper to beat, and his team was punished minutes after when the Nigerian defence failed to clear a long punch forward, allowing Amar Al-Ayuba to ghost in behind and poke the loose ball beyond Ebenezer Harcourt for 1-1 on 21 minutes.
The Flying Eagles regained the lead in the 21st minute after executing a three-player free-kick routine that ended with Ochoche’s mishit cross looping into the far top corner, giving Nigeria a 2-1 lead at the break.
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However, another deep long ball was Nigeria’s undoing early in the second half, as an unsure defence allowed Talal Haji to send a looping header over Harcourt and into the net for 2-2 on 50 minutes.
The Saudi Arabians almost took the lead with another long punt forward, but the chance hit the post before Nigeria’s continued attacking foray paid off with a penalty kick awarded for handball from a cross.
Bameyi, the team captain, stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way, sealing a 3-2 victory four minutes into added time.
The win brightened Nigeria’s chance of reaching the round of 16. The Flying Eagles moved up to third place in Group F with three points, one point behind both Colombia and Norway, who are in first and second spot, respectively.
The Flying Eagles will face Colombia in their last group fixture at midnight on October 6.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
