FOOTBALL Live

Tuesday August 19, 2008 Finished

Logo 4 - Logo 1

Nigeria

  • Adefemi 17’
  • Ogbuke 59’, 72’
  • Okonkwo 78’

Belgium

  • Ciman 88’

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Nigeria
    • Belgium
    • 90+2' THERE'S THE FINAL WHISTLE. NIGERIA CELEBRATE ANOTHER APPREARANCE IN THE OLYMPIC FINAL. JOIN US AGAIN AT 2PM TO SEE WHO THEY'LL MEET. WILL IT BE BRAZIL OR ARGENTINA?
    • 88' GOAL!!! BELGIUM PULL ONE BACK. A FREE-KICK IS ROLLED TO THE SIDE AND CIMAN POWERFULLY SHOOTS INTO THE BOTTOM-LEFT CORNER.
    • 83' The Nigerian's are playing 'keep-ball' now involving their keeper. They're really enjoying themselves playing along to the music being played by their fans. HERE'S EKPO WITH A SHOT - GREAT SAVE!! SHOTS ARE BEING FIRED IN FROM ALL SORTS OF RANGES NOW AND ALL THESE NIGERIANS CAN REALLY HIT THEM.
    • 78' GOAL!!! NIGERIA MAKE IT 4-0. A CORNER IS PLAYED ALL THE WAY BACK TO OKONKWO 40 YARDS FROM GOAL, HE CARRIES IT IN-FIELD AND STRIKES FROM 25 YARDS AND IT'S IN-OFF-THE-POST! IT'S A CONFIDENCE BOOSTING WIN TO HEAD INTO THE FINAL!
    • 71' GOAL!!! AND WHAT A GOAL!! IT'S AN INCREDIBLE STRIKE OGBUKE OBASI FROM ALL OF 30 YARDS THAT GIVES THE KEEPER NO CHANCE AND SECURES NIGERIA'S SPOT IN THE FINAL.
    • 70' Belgian substitute Odidja-Ofoe picks up a booking.
    • 62' Anichebe has a great chance and it's an unbelievable miss. He puts it wide with the goal gaping. He won't look forward to going back to Everton with all the taunting he'll receieve after that.
    • 59' GOAL!!! IT'S 2-0! OGBUKE OBASI BEATS THE OFFSIDE TRAP AND FINDS HIMSELF ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE KEEPER AND HE COOLY SIDE-FOOTS HOME.
    • 57' Everton's Anichebe is on for Okoronkwo.
    • 53' Vanzekin in the Nigerian goal comes up with a terrific double-save. He tips on to the cross-bar from Faris Haroun and then moments later saves low to his right from a sweet Vertonghen volley.
    • 50' Some initially great defending by the Belgians is nearly undone to let in the Nigerian attacking force. It's a good save in the end from the keeper, Bailly.
    • 47' Nigeria now make that change. Emmanuel Ekpo is on for Ebeneezer Ajilore who was on a yellow card from the first-half.
    • 45' There's the half-time whistle. It might be Argentina - Brazil after this match but it will do well to match this game in terms of entertainment. Nigeria have a deserved lead but the few chances Belgium have created have been as good as those of the Africans. It's still all to play for.
    • 43' Belgium tear through the middle of the Nigerians with a speedy counter-attack. Mirallas takes a bad first touch and shoots over with the African keeper at his feet.
    • 40' Belgian defender Jeroen Simaeys picks up a yellow card. He was sent off in their first game of the competition against Brazil and will have to tread carefully now.
    • 35' Okoronkwo surges forward for Nigeria after a simple one-two on the halfway line. He's one-on-one with the keeper but drags his shot wide. A great chance missed to double their lead.
    • 31' The action has just quietened down a little. Belgium are trying to pass the ball nicely through midfield but the power and strength of the Nigerians is proving difficult to break down.
    • 22' Belgium have a rare opportunity with a corner. It comes out to Verthonghen but he blazes over from just outside the box.
    • 17' GOAL!!! Just as the Belgians were starting to show signs of getting into this, Nigeria take the lead. Olubayo Adefemi follows up a rebound off the keeper to slot home in the bottom right corner. Nigeria 1-0 Belgium.
    • 15' Belgium have stepped a gear now to stay with the men in green. Kevin Mirallas shoots well but the keeper covers his near post well.
    • 12' There's half-hearted appeals for a penalty after Nigerian forward Odemwingie goes down, but it's the right decision. It's surely a question of when will the Nigerians score rather than if at the moment.
    • 4' The Africans are looking to play at a high tempo and impose themselves on the game early on. Ebenezer Ajilore shows too much enthusiasm in the challenge though and picks up a booking.
    • 1' We are underway and it's a bright start for the Nigerians with an early shot on goal to test the Belgian keeper.
    • - Welcome to LIVE text commentary of today's first semi-final between Nigeria and Belgium. The Africans go in as favourites with a strong Olympic record having won it in 1996, Atlanta. But the Belgians will be bouyed by their defat of current World Cup holders Italy in their last match. Follow the action LIVE with eurosport.com.

  • Summary

    • 88' GOAL!!! BELGIUM PULL ONE BACK. A FREE-KICK IS ROLLED TO THE SIDE AND CIMAN POWERFULLY SHOOTS INTO THE BOTTOM-LEFT CORNER.
    • 78' GOAL!!! NIGERIA MAKE IT 4-0. A CORNER IS PLAYED ALL THE WAY BACK TO OKONKWO 40 YARDS FROM GOAL, HE CARRIES IT IN-FIELD AND STRIKES FROM 25 YARDS AND IT'S IN-OFF-THE-POST! IT'S A CONFIDENCE BOOSTING WIN TO HEAD INTO THE FINAL!
    • 71' GOAL!!! AND WHAT A GOAL!! IT'S AN INCREDIBLE STRIKE OGBUKE OBASI FROM ALL OF 30 YARDS THAT GIVES THE KEEPER NO CHANCE AND SECURES NIGERIA'S SPOT IN THE FINAL.
    • 62' Anichebe has a great chance and it's an unbelievable miss. He puts it wide with the goal gaping. He won't look forward to going back to Everton with all the taunting he'll receieve after that.
    • 43' Belgium tear through the middle of the Nigerians with a speedy counter-attack. Mirallas takes a bad first touch and shoots over with the African keeper at his feet.
    • 35' Okoronkwo surges forward for Nigeria after a simple one-two on the halfway line. He's one-on-one with the keeper but drags his shot wide. A great chance missed to double their lead.
    • 17' GOAL!!! Just as the Belgians were starting to show signs of getting into this, Nigeria take the lead. Olubayo Adefemi follows up a rebound off the keeper to slot home in the bottom right corner. Nigeria 1-0 Belgium.
    • 12' There's half-hearted appeals for a penalty after Nigerian forward Odemwingie goes down, but it's the right decision. It's surely a question of when will the Nigerians score rather than if at the moment.
    • - Welcome to LIVE text commentary of today's first semi-final between Nigeria and Belgium. The Africans go in as favourites with a strong Olympic record having won it in 1996, Atlanta. But the Belgians will be bouyed by their defat of current World Cup holders Italy in their last match. Follow the action LIVE with eurosport.com.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Nigeria

    Starting line-up

    • A. Vanzekin
    • C. Okonkwo Goal Yellow Card
    • O. Apam
    • D. Adeleye
    • O. Adefemi Goal
    • S. Kaita
    • E. Ajilore Yellow Card Substitution Out (47′)
    • C. Ogbuke Goals×2 Substitution Out (73′)
    • V. Nsofor Obinna
    • S. Okoronkwo Substitution Out (57′)
    • P. Odemwingie

    Subs

    • V. Anichebe Substitution In57′
    • O. Olufemi
    • E. Ekpo Substitution In47′
    • I. Ezenwa
    • P. Isaac Substitution In73′
    • M. James
    • E. Ambrose

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Belgium

    Captain: Maarten Martens

    Starting line-up

    • L. Bailly
    • S. De Roover
    • S. Pocognoli
    • J. Simaeys Yellow Card
    • F. Haroun
    • J. Vertonghen Yellow Card
    • M. Martens Substitution Out (63′)
    • A. Vanden Borre
    • T. de Mul Substitution Out (75′)
    • K. Mirallas Substitution Out (75′)
    • M. Dembele

    Subs

    • T. Vermaelen
    • M. Fellaini
    • L. Mulemo Substitution In75′
    • L. Ciman Substitution In75′ Goal
    • Y. Ma Kalambay
    • V. Odidja Yellow Card
    • Y. Dewinter

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None