Nigeria 2-0 Iceland: Musa to the Rescue2 min read

In Group D, Croatia beat Argentina leaving them clear at the top with 6 points which make the second spot up for grabs between Iceland and Nigeria.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi was dropped from the starting XI which raised eyebrows but Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa played together for the first time in the World Cup.

Nothing interesting happened in the first half with Iceland having the better chances and dominated in possession.

Nigeria gained the breakthrough after 4 minutes into the second half when the former Leicester player Ahmed Musa beautifully controlled a cross by Victor Moses and then with a half-volley beat Hannes Thor Halldorsson.

After Musa scored his first goal he accidentally caught Ragnar Sigurdsson with his knee which led to a cut in the Viking’s head.

Nigeria was hungry for more when Wilfred Ndidi’s shot outside the box went in with the help of a deflection which forced the keeper to push the ball over the bar in the 57^th minute.

Musa, who didn’t start against Croatia bagged in another goal with a spectacular run through the left side of the pitch by beating Kari Arnason in a foot race which allowed him to move past the keeper with ease to blast the ball into the net in the 75^th minute.

After a VAR check, the referee gave Iceland a penalty when Nigeria’s Tyronne Ebuehi fouled Alfred Finnbogason with a late challenge.

Initially, the referee refused to give the penalty, but VAR picked up the foul after a couple of minutes break but Iceland talisman Gylfi Sigurdsson already had the ball in his hands near the penalty spot.

However, on the 82^nd minute, Sigurdsson blasted the ball over the bar while the keeper went the wrong way which cemented Nigeria’s 3 points.

The game ended with Nigeria on top which means matchday 3 will determine who will qualify into the last 16.

Source of Image: BBC