Nigeria on Monday beat Tahiti 6-1.
FT: (54′ Jonathan Tehua) Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria (5′ 80′ Uwa Elderson Echiejile, 10′ 26′ 76′ Nnamdi Oduamadi, 69′ Jonathan Tehau)
Tahiti scored a historic goal in their first match at a senior FIFA
tournament, but they could not handle Nigeria, who took no mercy in a
6-1 victory.
The Pacific Islanders went behind in unfortunate fashion. Echiejile hit a
speculative effort from distance, which first struck Jonathan Tehau
before hitting Tahiti captain Nicolas Villar to take the ball past a
stranded Xavier Samin.
Nigeria then doubled their lead with a well-taken effort by Nnamdi
Oduamad. A slack Tahiti pass was pounced upon and the ball found its way
to the forward, who calmly slotted home.
Nigeria extended their lead shortly after. Ahmed Musa broke down the
left and his rather tame cross was spilled by Samin, allowing Oduamadi
to tap home the rebound.
There were loud cheers as Samin partially made up for his earlier
mistake after a brave challenge at the feet of Anthony Ujah, who found
himself one-on-one with the Tahiti goalkeeper.
The moment of the game came when
Tahiti scored their historic goal. The side’s only professional player
Marama Vahirua whipped a corner to the back post, where a rising
Jonathan Tehau thumped his header past Vincent Enyeama.
The celebrations by the players on the pitch and from coach Eddy Etaeta
on the sideline were something to behold, as the Tahitians revelled in
the limelight.
They were quickly brought down to earth though, as the goalscorer of
that historic effort poked an Oduamadi cross past his own goalkeeper,
with Brown Ideye applying pressure.
Oduamadi then wrapped the game up, and claimed the match ball,
completing his hat-trick with a simple tap-in, with Echiejile completing
the rout with his second.
Nigeria will face a sterner test when they come up against South American
champions Uruguay in their next game. Tahiti, meanwhile, face the small
matter of a trip to the Maracana to face FIFA World Cup holders Spain.
Credit: FIFA
Starting line-ups in the Confederations Cup Group B match between Tahiti and Nigeria at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte on Monday:
Tahiti
Xavier Samin; Vincent Simon, Teheivarii Ludivion, Nicolas Vallar (capt),
Ricky Aitamai; Henri Caroine, Heimano Bourebare, Jonathan Tehau; Alvin
Tehau, Marama Vahirua, Steevy Chong Hue
Coach: Eddy Etaeta
Nigeria
Vincent Enyeama (capt); Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo,
Uwa Echiejile; John Mikel Obi, Fegor Ogude, Sunday Mba; Agmed Musa,
Nnamdi Oduamadi, Anthony Ujah
Coach: Stephen Keshi
Referee: Joel Aguilar
- Sapa-AFP
Post a Comment