Thursday June 17, 2010 Group Stage: Group B Finished Vodacom Park

Greece 2 - 1 Nigeria

  • Salpigidis 44’
  • Torosidis 71’
  • Uche 16’

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  1. Greece record historic victory

    Greece record historic victory

    Greece recorded their first ever victory at the World Cup finals with a 2-1 win over 10-man Nigeria in Bloemfontein. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Greece
    • Nigeria
    • 90+4' FULL-TIME! Greece record their first ever victory at the World CUp finals with a 2-1 win over 10-man Nigeria in Bloemfontein that gives them a chance of escaping Group B.
    • 90+3' Samaras waltzes into the penalty area but drags his shot into the side netting.
    • 90+2' Enyeama pushes Tziolis' drive around the post.
    • 90+1' Four minutes of added time.
    • 90' Match Image Torosidis scores
    • 89' Karagounis goes down in instalments after a trip by Obasi and the Nigeria sub is booked.
    • 88' Samaras booked for a high tackle on Odiah.
    • 87' Torosidis' cross just too high for Samaras.
    • 86' Ninis coaxes a ball into the penalty area but Yobo clears.
    • 85' If Argentina beat Greece then Nigeria could still progress with a victory over Korea, providing they have the best goal difference of the three teams who would be tied on three points in that scenario.
    • 84' If the situation remains the same, Greece would have to better Korea's result in the final round of games to progress - of course the Greeks face Argentina and Korea meet Nigeria.
    • 83' Uche with a diagonal shot but well wide of the post.
    • 82' Kyrgiakos has had a host of chances for a defender, this time blazing over after a cross fell to the Liverpool man.
    • 81' Arguably the most gifted player of his generation, Ninis is a joy to watch in midfield. Vision, speed and skill will turn this youngster into a transfer target for major European clubs if Rehhagel gives him time to shine.
    • 80' And Greece make a change with Sotiris Ninis replacing Gekas.
    • 79' The sub is subbed. Rabiu Afolabi on for the injured Echiejile.
    • 78' Match Image Obasi misses an open goal
    • 77' Cleared at the near post by Nigeria who have not won any of their last six World Cup matches.
    • 76' Enyeama pushes out another Karagounis fizzer and it's a corner.
    • 75' And at the other end Yakubu flashes an effort narrowly past the post.
    • 74' Karagounis is not too far away from a third as his fizzing 25-yard effort whistles wide.
    • 73' Echiejile looks to have pulled a hamstring and Lagerback will need to make a second change at left-back.
    • 72' The Jabulani playing its part in the goal.
    • 71' GOAL GREECE! Enyeama at fault as he fails to hold Tziolis' bending, skidding drive and Torosidis has the simple task of tapping home the rebound.
    • 70' Salpingidis's cross is deflected off Echiejile for a corner.
    • 69' Gekas rattles the frame for the goal from seven yards but is already offside.
    • 68' Enyeama has been the best goalkeeper in this tournament by a distance.
    • 67' Corner pulled back to Salpingidis whose chip is met by Kyrgiakos and plucked out of the air superbly by Enyeama. That was destined for the top corner before the diving one-handed save.
    • 66' Gekas meets a cross but Yobo does enough to prevent him getting a clean header on target. Corner.
    • 65' 15 shots to 7 in favour of Greece.
    • 64' Head coach Lars Lagerback was in charge of Sweden when they beat Greece 2-0 in the group stages in Euro 2008 two years ago - both teams failed to reach the knockout stages.
    • 63' Odiah's cross is too deep.
    • 62' Nigeria are making their fourth World Cup appearance. Their best result is reaching the Last 16 (1994 and 1998). In 2002, the Super Eagles went out in the group phase.
    • 61' Long range shot from Samaras but miles wide.
    • 60' Alexandros Tziolis was booked for a foul in the build-up.
    • 59' Nigeria counter with pace and have men over. Yakubu's effort is repelled by a one-handed saved from Tzorvas but Obasi must tap the follow-up into the open net only to fail to hit the target. Miss of the tournament.
    • 58' Terrible headed clearance from Yobo goes straight to Gekas but he spurns a glorious chance as Enyeama once more is off his line, makes himself big and blocks a close-range effort.
    • 57' Gee - "What is wrong with Kaita. This game is smooth no rough­ tackle should come from our players. This red card will­ put pressure on the outside right. "
    • 56' Uwa Echiejile replaces Taiwo.
    • 55' Kyrgiakos wins another set-piece header but no real power and a comfortable save for the stooping Enyeama.
    • 54' Nigeria currently down to nine and Shittu makes a vital interception to cut out Loukas Vyntra's cross.
    • 53' Taiwo picked up an injury against Argentina and is helped off the field with what appears to be a groin injury.
    • 52' Good defending from Papadopoulos to prevent Yakubu from reaching a long ball down the left.
    • 51' Karagounis with an optimistic drive from distance but over the crossbar.
    • 50' Shittu heads the corner back across goal but is penalised for a push.
    • 49' Tzorvas flicks Uche's dug out cross behind for a corner.
    • 48' A header from Karagounis is over the top.
    • 47' Enyeama plucks a dangerous cross out of the air with one hand.
    • 46' Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi replaces Odemwingie at the start of the second-half.
    • - Today's Venn answer - The four players in question are Brazilian legend Pele, Germany's Paul Breitner, France's Zinedine Zidane and another Brazilian, Vava. They are the only players in World Cup history to have scored goals in two separate World Cup finals. Breitner scored for West Germany in 1974 and 1982. Zidane scored for France in 1998 and 2006. And the Brazilian pair? Pele scored in the 1958 and 1970 finals, and Vava found the net in 1958 and 1962. Another Venn tomorrow
    • 45+2' Half-time! Game on now. Remember a Greece defeat and they will be the first team to be eliminated.
    • 45+1' Nigeria get a chance to put the ball in the penalty area but a comfortable save for Tzorvas.
    • 45' And you have to say it was coming, Greece dominating since the sending off.
    • 44' GOAL GREECE!! There it is. Katsouranis lays off to Salpingidis whose shot is deflected off the heel of Lukman and nestles in the top corner with the stranded Enyeama left with no chance.
    • 43' Greece really on top now.
    • 42' Haruna clears off the line from Samaras! The long-haired striker fails to make decent contact with his volley from six yards and hacked to safety.
    • 41' Katsouranis with a decent effort from the corner but fails to hit the target from 12 yards.
    • 40' Great save by Enyeama to deny Greece that historic goal. The keeper off his line swiftly to smother Dimitris Salpingidis' close-range effort and Shittu gets to the rebound ahead of Gekas. A great ball around the corner in the build-up from Katsouranis.
    • 39' Shittu prevents Gekas from reaching Katsouranis's cross into the penalty area.
    • 38' Celtic's Samaras tries to pick up Gekas' knockdown but only manages to run the ball out of play.
    • 37' Rehhagel has been in charge of the country for almost nine years – only Denmark’s Morten Olsen has been a national team head coach for longer out of all 32 countries in the World Cup. Rehhagel became head coach in August 2001.
    • 36' Rehhagel is looking to capitalise on their numerical advantage and a striker Georgios Samaras replaces a central defender Papastathopoulos.
    • 35' A real boost for Greece and Torosidis meets a cross from the right but can't direct his header on target.
    • 34' Kaita leaves the field with his shirt over his face. A moment of madness.
    • 33' RED CARD! Total ill discipline from Sani Kaita who kicks out at the thigh of Torosidis and has to go.
    • 32' Karagounis' piledriver from the left is met by the head of Yobo.
    • 31' The left wing-back needs treatment after a collision with Odiah.
    • 30' Greece are the only participating team in South Africa to have never scored a World Cup goal.
    • 29' Karagounis' corner is met firmly by the head of Kyrgiakos but over the top.
    • 28' Taiwo pokes behind for a corner.
    • 27' Match Image The goal
    • 26' Greece have lost all of their four World Cup matches without scoring a goal. If they lose today this will be the longest ever losing run by a European country at a World Cup since its debut.
    • 25' Karagounis' free-kick is easily headed away by Danny Shittu.
    • 24' Karagounis brought down by Laxman 35 yards from goal.
    • 23' A long free-kick is directed towards Kyrgiakos, he gets his head on it but can't make decent contact.
    • 22' From the free-kick, Taye Taiwo blasts his effort into the wall but it's another corner.
    • 21' Sotiris Kyrgiakos cynically blocks off Haruna Lukman on the edge of the penalty area.
    • 20' The finger pointing has already started in the Greek team.
    • 19' Yakubu's shot is way off target but Tzorvas palms it one-handed behind for a corner. Luckily for the keeper it has no impact.
    • 18' Greece force as corner but easily cleared.
    • 17' And from the resulting free-kick…GOAL!! Nigeria lead as Uche's free-kick goes over the head of Kostas Katsouranis and Odemwingie and nestles in the back of the net. It was a cross but keeper Tzorvas was rooted to his line.
    • 16' The first yellow of the match as Socratis Papastathopoulos tugs back Peter Odemwingie.
    • 15' Yakubu goes down under a challenge from Avraam Papadopoulos and Kalu Uche's pass runs through to Alexandros Tzorvas.
    • 14' Greece's last victory was a 1-0 play-off win at Ukraine in November 2009.
    • 13' Greece only had two shots on targets against South Korea, at least they are on course to improve that!
    • 12' Kostas Katsouranis has the first attempt on goal but it is from the halfway line and easy for Vincent Enyeama.
    • 11' Giorgos Karagounis's free-kick into the penalty area but Vassilis Torosidis is beaten to the header by Joseph Yobo.
    • 10' No shots in the opening 10 minutes - a tepid start.
    • 9' For the first time in the match Nigeria put some passes together but Chidi Odiah's cross is too heavy.
    • 8' Taye Taiwo cuts out a pass on the edge of his own penalty area.
    • 7' Yakubu looking at the referee for a second time, pleading for a foul, but nothing doing.
    • 6' Greece are one of two teams present at the 2010 World Cup who have not won a match in 2010 – three defeats and one draw – the others are Italy.
    • 5' Fanis Gekas is the focal point of the Greek attack but can't latch onto a cross from the left.
    • 4' Sani Kaita's cross from the right is too high for Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
    • 3' Otto Rehhagel has gone with five at the back. Nigeria are playing 4-4-2.
    • 2' A chilly afternoon and some players are wearing gloves.
    • 1' And we are underway for a match being played before a half-empty stadium.
    • 14:55 Referee Oscar Ruiz from Colombia leads the teams out.
    • 14:50 Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback has reasons to be confident. His team's attacking style poses a huge threat to a defensive Greek side never to have scored a World Cup goal, while all of Nigeria's previous tournament wins have come against European opposition.
    • 14:45 Both sides need the points after losing their opening matches, but Nigeria showed flashes of form in the 1-0 defeat by Argentina while Greek defensive errors handed South Korea a 2-0 victory.
    • 14:40 Greece have played 18 previous matches against African opposition – winning six, drawing four and losing eight.
    • 14:35 The only other meeting between these two teams was Greece’s 2-0 home friendly victory in November 1999 - Nikos Machlas scored twice for the hosts.
    • 14:30 These countries have met once before in the World Cup – Nigeria winning 2-0 in the final group stage match in 1994 with goals from Finidi and Daniel Amokachi.
    • 14:25 Greece and Nigeria have met twice in international football. Greece have won one, Nigeria one and there has been no draws.
    • 14:20 Coach Otto Rehhagel, whose side have never won or even scored in a World Cup match, also brings in striker Dimitris Salpingidis for Giorgos Samaras.
    • 14:15 Greece have added some defensive steel to their line-up with imposing duo Socratis Papastathopoulos and Sotiris Kyrgiakos starting having surprisingly been left out for the opening defeat to South Korea.
    • 14:10 Nigeria forwards Peter Odemwingie and Kala Uche were both handed starts. Chinedu Obasi and Victor Obinna drop to the bench alongside Obafemi Martins as coach Lars Lagerback shuffles his attack in search of goals and their first points of the tournament.
    • 14:05 Teams - Greece: 12-Alexandros Tzorvas; 11-Loukas Vyntra, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos, 15-Vassilis Torosidis, 6-Alexandros Tziolis, 8-Avraam Papadopoulos, 19-Socratis Papastathopoulos, 10-Giorgos Karagounis, 21-Kostas Katsouranis; 14-Dimitris Salpingidis, 17-Fanis Gekas. /// Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 17-Chidi Odiah, 6-Danny Shittu, 2-Joseph Yobo, 3-Taye Taiwo, 12-Kalu Uche, 20-Dickson Etuhu, 15-Haruna Lukman, 14-Sani Kaita, 8-Yakubu Aiyegbeni, 11-Peter Odemwingie.
    • 14:00 Greece and Nigeria have a chance to join South Korea on three points in Group B as they meet at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

  • Summary

    • 76' Enyeama pushes out another Karagounis fizzer and it's a corner.
    • 75' And at the other end Yakubu flashes an effort narrowly past the post.
    • 74' Karagounis is not too far away from a third as his fizzing 25-yard effort whistles wide.
    • 71' GOAL GREECE! Enyeama at fault as he fails to hold Tziolis' bending, skidding drive and Torosidis has the simple task of tapping home the rebound.
    • 67' Corner pulled back to Salpingidis whose chip is met by Kyrgiakos and plucked out of the air superbly by Enyeama. That was destined for the top corner before the diving one-handed save.
    • 59' Nigeria counter with pace and have men over. Yakubu's effort is repelled by a one-handed saved from Tzorvas but Obasi must tap the follow-up into the open net only to fail to hit the target. Miss of the tournament.
    • 58' Terrible headed clearance from Yobo goes straight to Gekas but he spurns a glorious chance as Enyeama once more is off his line, makes himself big and blocks a close-range effort.
    • 55' Kyrgiakos wins another set-piece header but no real power and a comfortable save for the stooping Enyeama.
    • 44' GOAL GREECE!! There it is. Katsouranis lays off to Salpingidis whose shot is deflected off the heel of Lukman and nestles in the top corner with the stranded Enyeama left with no chance.
    • 42' Haruna clears off the line from Samaras! The long-haired striker fails to make decent contact with his volley from six yards and hacked to safety.
    • 40' Great save by Enyeama to deny Greece that historic goal. The keeper off his line swiftly to smother Dimitris Salpingidis' close-range effort and Shittu gets to the rebound ahead of Gekas. A great ball around the corner in the build-up from Katsouranis.
    • 33' RED CARD! Total ill discipline from Sani Kaita who kicks out at the thigh of Torosidis and has to go.
    • 17' And from the resulting free-kick…GOAL!! Nigeria lead as Uche's free-kick goes over the head of Kostas Katsouranis and Odemwingie and nestles in the back of the net. It was a cross but keeper Tzorvas was rooted to his line.
    • 14:05 Teams - Greece: 12-Alexandros Tzorvas; 11-Loukas Vyntra, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos, 15-Vassilis Torosidis, 6-Alexandros Tziolis, 8-Avraam Papadopoulos, 19-Socratis Papastathopoulos, 10-Giorgos Karagounis, 21-Kostas Katsouranis; 14-Dimitris Salpingidis, 17-Fanis Gekas. /// Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 17-Chidi Odiah, 6-Danny Shittu, 2-Joseph Yobo, 3-Taye Taiwo, 12-Kalu Uche, 20-Dickson Etuhu, 15-Haruna Lukman, 14-Sani Kaita, 8-Yakubu Aiyegbeni, 11-Peter Odemwingie.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

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      Goalkeeper
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      Defenders
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      Yellow Card Substitution Out37′ - -
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      Midfielders
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      Substitution Out79′ - -
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      Substitution Out45′ - -
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      Substitution In77′ - -
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      Substitution In45′ Yellow Card - -

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