Nigeria thump Tahiti to keep hopes alive

الخميس، 01 أكتوبر 2009 - 21:39

كتب : Hatem Maher

Nigeria thumped Tahiti 5-0 to keep alive their hopes of reaching the U-20 World Cup round of 16 on Thursday.

The Africans went to the locker room at Cairo Stadium with a four-goal lead, thanks to strikes from Obiora Nwankwo, Ibok Edet, Kehinde Fatai and Nurudeen Orelesi.

Tournament debutants Tahiti, who have not scored a single goal and were handed heavy defeats to Spain and Venezuela by the same 8-0 scoreline, had Lorenzo Tehau dismissed just before the break for a second bookable offense.

Lorenzo's brother Alvin Tehau was also sent off in the 74th minute as Tahiti finished with nine men.

Daniel Adejo completed the rout in stoppage time but Nigeria wasted several clear-cut chances that could have further increased the gap and boosted their chances of booking a last-16 berth.

They finished third in Group B with three points and a plus-two goal difference. They face an anxious wait to learn whether they will progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

Spain finished on top of the group with maximum nine points after crushing Venezuela, who advanced to the second round as runners-up to the European heavyweights with six points, 3-0.

التعليقات