World Cup 2018: Nigeria 2-0 Iceland

Published on: 22 June 2018

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Ahmed Musa fires Nigeria into lead

Ahmed Musa scored both goals as Nigeria swept aside World Cup debutants Iceland to leave Group D intriguingly poised with one round of games to go.

The Super Eagles would have gone out with defeat but came good in Volgograd.

Musa showed superb technique to fire Nigeria ahead on the half-volley before the Leicester player rounded keeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson to make it 2-0.

Iceland missed a late penalty awarded after a video assistant referee review, Gylfi Sigurdsson firing over.

    How did you rate the players? Relive the action as Nigeria beat Iceland

The result gives a slight lift to beleaguered group rivals Argentina. Victory over Nigeria in their final game would see La Albiceleste safely into the last 16 - as long as Iceland do not beat group leaders Croatia. In that event, goal difference would decide who progressed.

Victory in that game for Nigeria, on the other hand, would now guarantee their progress. Having started the day bottom of the group, they find themselves second - three points behind Croatia, who have already qualified for the knockout stage.

Iceland, who face Croatia on Tuesday, and Argentina, who play Nigeria at the same time, both have one point.

Musa the difference as Super Eagles soar

Having gone down 2-0 to Croatia in their first game, Nigeria would have joined African rivals Egypt and Morocco in exiting the tournament early if they had lost here.

They started slowly, becoming the first team in Russia not to have a shot in the first 45 minutes.

Yet they were a different proposition after the interval as they went on to secure only a second win in 14 games at a World Cup finals.

Musa, who ended last season at CSKA Moscow on loan from Leicester City, proved the difference having been recalled to the team after the Croatia defeat.

He showed exceptional quality to open the scoring, controlling a cross by Victor Moses before lashing home from 10-yards.

Having scored one of the goals of the tournament, Musa then hit the bar before scoring his second after Iceland's defence had gone walkabout.

Nigeria still have to beat Argentina to make sure of extending their stay in Russia but this performance, particularly in the second half, will give them a huge lift for Tuesday's group finale.

What's next?

Nigeria's last game of the group phase is against Argentina in St Petersburg on Tuesday (19:00 BST) while Iceland face group leaders Croatia in Rostov-on-Don at the same time.

More to follow.

    Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Nigeria

    23Uzoho

    6Balogun

    5Troost-Ekong

    22Omeruo

    11Moses

    4Ndidi

    10Mikel

    8EteboSubstituted forIwobiat 90+1'minutes

    2IdowuBooked at 44minsSubstituted forEbuehiat 45'minutes

    7Musa

    14IheanachoSubstituted forIghaloat 85'minutes

Substitutes

    1Ezenwa

    3Echiéjilé

    9Ighalo

    12Shehu

    13Simy

    15Obi

    16Akpeyi

    17Onazi

    18Iwobi

    19Ogu

    20Awaziem

    21Ebuehi

Iceland

    1Halldórsson

    2Saevarsson

    14Árnason

    6R SigurdssonSubstituted forIngasonat 65'minutes

    18Magnússon

    19Gíslason

    17GunnarssonSubstituted forAF Skúlasonat 87'minutes

    10G Sigurdsson

    8Bjarnason

    22BödvarssonSubstituted forSigurdarsonat 71'minutes

    11Finnbogason

Substitutes

    3Fridjónsson

    4Gudmundsson

    5Ingason

    7Berg Gudmundsson

    9Sigurdarson

    12Schram

    13Rúnarsson

    15Eyjólfsson

    16OI Skúlason

    20Hallfredsson

    21Traustason

    23AF Skúlason

Referee:

Matthew Conger

Match Stats

Home TeamNigeriaAway TeamIceland

Possession

Home62%

Away38%

Shots

Home16

Away9

Shots on Target

Home4

Away3

Corners

Home6

Away5

Fouls

Home9

Away10

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Nigeria 2, Iceland 0.

Full TimePosted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Nigeria 2, Iceland 0.

Posted at 90'+7'

Attempt blocked. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Odion Ighalo.

Posted at 90'+5'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 90'+4'

Delay in match John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) because of an injury.

Posted at 90'+2'

Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Kári Árnason (Iceland).

SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'

Substitution, Nigeria. Alex Iwobi replaces Oghenekaro Etebo.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Iceland) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Rúrik Gíslason with a cross following a set piece situation.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Oghenekaro Etebo (Nigeria).

Posted at 89'

Birkir Már Saevarsson (Iceland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 89'

Attempt blocked. Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyronne Ebuehi.

Posted at 88'

Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Iceland).

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. Alfred Finnbogason (Iceland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ari Freyr Skúlason.

SubstitutionPosted at 87'

Substitution, Iceland. Ari Freyr Skúlason replaces Aron Gunnarsson Dangerous play by.

SubstitutionPosted at 85'

Substitution, Nigeria. Odion Ighalo replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Oghenekaro Etebo.

Posted at 83'

Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) right footed shot is high and wide to the right. Gylfi Sigurdsson should be disappointed.

Posted at 81'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 81'

Video Review: Penalty Kick. Referee decision on field cancelled.

Posted at 80'

Delay in match (Nigeria). Video Review.

Posted at 80'

Penalty conceded by Tyronne Ebuehi (Nigeria) after a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 80'

Penalty Iceland. Alfred Finnbogason draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Rúrik Gíslason.

Posted at 77'

Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland).

Goal!Posted at 75'

Goal! Nigeria 2, Iceland 0. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Kenneth Omeruo.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Victor Moses (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Posted at 74'

Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Oghenekaro Etebo.

Posted at 74'

Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Victor Moses.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Leon Balogun (Nigeria) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Kári Árnason.

SubstitutionPosted at 71'

Substitution, Iceland. Björn Sigurdarson replaces Jón Dadi Bödvarsson.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by John Obi Mikel with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Rúrik Gíslason.

Posted at 69'

Attempt blocked. Oghenekaro Etebo (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Wilfred Ndidi.

Posted at 68'

Attempt blocked. Victor Moses (Nigeria) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Rúrik Gíslason (Iceland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Birkir Bjarnason.

Show more updates

goal

Source: bbc.com

Source: bbc.com

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