Nigeria on Wednesday beat a ten-man US team 2-1 in a Group B match at the men’s football tournament at the Beijing Olympics, to advance to the quarter-finals with the Netherlands, who beat Japan 1-0.
A near capacity crowd in the 64,000-seater Beijing Workers Stadium saw the Americans, who were topping the group going into the last game, reduced to ten men after just three minutes.
German referee Wolfgang Stark sent off Michael Orozco for elbowing Nigerian forward Solomon Okoronkwo. Although virtually no contact was made the Bundesliga-based forward went down theatrically, leaving Stark few options.
The red card in effect killed off US coach Peter Nowak’s game plan and forced him to push players back in an attempt to keep the Nigerian forwards at bay.
The 1996 champions could have opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Chinedu Obasi had a free header, but keeper Brad Guzan did well to go down and save.
On the half hour Guzan again pulled off a great stop when he palmed away a powerful Obasi drive.
Against the run of play the US had a chance to open the scoring in the 35th minute after defender Marvell Wynne ran virtually the entire length of the field, only for his cross to be cleared.
Nigeria finally broke the deadlock seven minutes from the end through Promise Isaac, who was set up in the area by Obasi.
The Americans had two opportunities to come back early in the second half, but Stuart Holden first missed from close range and then none of the forwards were on hand to push in a ball Danny Szetela had lobbed over goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin.
In the 79th minute Nigeria scored their second through Victor Obinna who beat Guzan from close range.
America were handed a lifeline three minutes from the end when Vanzekin had a rush of blood and lunged with two legs at Maurice Edu. Stark pointed to the spot and Sacha Kljestan made no mistake in converting.
Two minutes later substitute Charlie Davies saw his header from a Dax McCarthy freekick hit the crossbar.
The result sees Nigeria top the group with seven points from the Netherlands, who finished on five after beating Japan with a 73rd minute penalty from Gerald Sibon.
In Group D, Italy and Cameroon played to a goalless draw – a result that sees Italy go through first with seven points, while Cameroon advance on five.
South Korea’s 1-0 victory through a goal in the 23rd minute by Kim Dong Jin was not enough to see them advance.
from: bangkokpost.com
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