Sports News Football International Friendlies 2018 Nigeria vs Czech Republic

Nigeria

0 - 1

Czech Republic

25' T. Kalas

PEEP! PEEP! THAT'S IT!

The ref's seen enough, and blows just as the clock ticks over to 90. Nigeria really need to up their game -- and they need to do it immediately.

Thanks for reading - Shambhu, Amit, and Anirudh signing off!

Toodle-ooo!

89' Nigeria look to Sarri-ball their way through the Czech's high press, but it takes a right proper lump up field from Ogu for that to happen. Musa runs onto a layoff from Iheanacho, but is caught offside.

88' OH! Another attack, another chance for the Czechs -- Boril romps down the right flank, leaving his markers for dead, before lifting in a neat little ball into the box that Troost-Ekong does just enough to tip away from the onrushing Kopic

87'... much better that from the young man, but Kalas does brilliantly to head it away from danger under considerable pressure. The Czech has been immense today

86' Iheanacho tries to do his bit with a set-piece, but he can't clear the first man. Iwobi recovers possession, though, and wins a freekick at the left-edge of the box. Iheanacho will deliver again...

85' Nigeria need to improve massively - show some more passion, allow some of that famous skill to come out - if they are to have even a whiff of a chance at what promises to be the toughest World Cup in ages

84' Balagon is like "i don't want no charity, eh" and kicks it right out of play. The level of this game could NOT be any lower

83' More beautifully simple names, Sural off, Kopic on - play resumes with the Czechs sportingly kicking the ball back.

82' The ref stops the game for an absolute muppet who's come onto the pitch wearing a Moses jersey over a raincoat. A-grade nut.

81' The Czechs also made a change in the midst of all that madness - Jankto off, the beautifully named Boril. See, the power of vowels

79' That corner leads to another - which requires more heroics from Francis to ensure the Czechs don't double their lead. Nigeria take the chance to make a double change - Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho on for Victor Moses and Jon Obi Mikel. Might as well throw the kitchen at it eh?

78' OOOOO! The corner's not cleared well enough... and the ball bounces out to Soucek at the edge of the box, he smacks one at goal -- it's well tipped away by Francis

77' A Czech attack! After what feels like ages Sural and vowel-deficient Krmencik combine down the left and win the Europeans a corner..

76' Moses takes, Kalas heads away. The corner count is a solid 10-9 in favour of the Super Eagles.

75' That leads to another as a Jon Obi Mikel shot is blocked... from which Nigeria are forced back. They start the rebuilding process from there and Iwobi wins them yet another corner

74' It's all Nigeria at the moment as they press hard for the equaliser. A neat bout of passing in midfield ends with Ebuehi's attempted layoff being hacked away for a corner by Kalas

73' EXCITMENT FINALLY! Ebeuehi charges on to a lay-off from Moses -- who ran a good 30 yards through the midfield himelf -- and wants a penalty for a challenge inflicted on him; the ref's having none of it and deems it a freekick. Iwobi takes, and it is utter filth

71' It's all a touch scrappy here - much like watching my college (not very good at this) take on another (not very good one).

69' Idowu off, Elderson on -- Ighalo off, Omeruo on; can they turn the tide for the Super Eagles? For the Czechs, Schick off, Krmencik on. USE YOUR VOWELS YOU SLAVS!

67' WHAT A CHANCE WHAT A MISS. Idowu flicks one over Kalas, finds himself 1 v 1 with the keeper, but smashes it into the third tier. What a chance for Nigeria. That was tougher to miss!!

66' Double sub for the Czechs. Travnik and Horava replace Sousek and Husbauer

65' CHANCE, No offside. Ighalo thinks he is one on one v the keeper after being set through on goal by Iwobi but the dreaded flag goes up.

64' Huge cheers as Nigeria get their first shot on goal in the second half. Ighalo flicks on a Moses corner but it lands straight into the hands of the keeper who does not even have to move.

63' Moses lines up the freekick but strikes it straight at the wall and yet another chance is wasted by the Super Eagles.

63' FREEKICK for Nigeria. Moses with a brilliant drag-flick, outfoxes the Czech defence and is taken down at the edge of the box.

61' Victor Moses goes down, but it's more from the rain than the actual challenge and the ref waves play on

60' And they are back. Biggest cheer of the game from the few tens of fans at the stadium

60' We have a 10-minute rain break. Is this a cricket match I'm watching?

60' It's absolutely pouring down here and the players are OFF. Unbelievable scenes really

59' Great build up play and Idowu is released with acres of space on the left. His cross is horribly miscued and flies into the third tier

56' TWINKLETOES. Ebuehi eases past Jugas, steps past another Czech challenge and whips a dangerous ball in but it is easily headed out by Suchy

54' It's all sideways, sideways, backwards, backwards from Nigeria who simply cannot find a way past this stubborn Czech defence.

50' CHANCE. A dangerous ball whipped in from the right but Ighalo cannot get on the end of it even after a desperate lunge. That was a missed opportunity to be honest. Nigeria will be ruing that

49' It's all route one stuff at the moment with both teams pumping in long balls to the strikers. Just as I say that, another long ball is aimed at Jankto but he is clattered into as the balls rolls out

48' Sural wrestles Ekong to the ground and then collapses in a heap himself. Gets nothing from the referee and play continues

47' Iwobi feeds Ighalo who seems to be going backwards after receiving the ball. Takes ages to get a shot away and the keeper gets low to his right to make the save

47' A sedate start to the second half as both teams attempt to get a feel of one another

Vaclik is replaced by Pavlenka

Abdullahi is replaced by Ebuehi

Aaaaaaand we are back for the second half. Nigeria had their moments in the first period, but couldn't capitalise. Will they fare any better in the second 45?

45' Czech have yet another corner but Uzoho comes out and collects it and PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! That's that in the first half. Surprisingly enough, Czech Republic are leading and the Nigerians have some work to do.

As it stands, it is Nigeria 0-1 Czech Republic at HT.

43' Nigeria are keeping the ball better and there's much more fluidity about their game at this point. But they still look blunt in the final third whereas Czech are making quite a few opportunities on the counter.

42' Some great piece of defending from Balogun. He chases the ball down with Sural hot on his heels and wins the ball, beats Sural and surges ahead and into the left wing before laying it off to Ogu so that they can start a counter. Nigeria subsequently win a corner and Ighalo goes for it with a bicycle kick but he's flagged offside.

39' Mikel trying to pull the strings from the centre and Nigeria are finally putting together some passes in their attacking third. They try to release Shehu into the box but Jugas intervenes and clears it out for a corner. It doesn't come to anything though.

38' Some pinball activity around the Nigerian box but Barak's volley from 25 yards out is tame and it goes out for a goalkick.

Nigeria (3-5-2)

Gernot Rohr (Manager)

F. Uzoho

J. Ogu

W. Troost-Ekong

L. Balogun

69'

B. Idowu

W. Ndidi

80'

J. Obi Mikel

A. Iwobi

46'

A. Shehu

69'

O. Ighalo

79'

V. Moses

46'

T. Vaclík

J. Jugas

M. Suchý

T. Kalas

79'

J. Jankto

A. Barák

65'

T. Souček

65'

J. Hušbauer

V. Coufal

69'

P. Schick

84'

J. Šural

Czech Republic (3-5-2)

Karel Jarolím (Manager)

Nigeria Subs

D. Akpeyi

J. Obi

C. Awaziem

46'

T. Ebuehi

69'

E. Echiejile

O. Etebo

I. Ezenwa

80'

K. Iheanacho

79'

A. Musa

K. Omeruo

O. Onazi

69'

S. Nwankwo

Czech Republic Subs

79'

J. Bořil

V. Darida

65'

T. Hořava

V. Jemelka

84'

J. Kopic

T. Koubek

69'

M. Krmenčík

46'

J. Pavlenka

J. Sýkora

65'

M. Travn

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Nigeria Must concal the world this time No messi can stop us

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

Sports News Football International Friendlies 2018 Nigeria vs Czech Republic

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