Nigeria line-up: Enyeama, Obobona, Echiejle, Ambrose, Omeruo, Ogu (Mba, 66'), Mikel, Ogude, Musa, Brown (Akpala, 73'), Oduamadi (Babatunde, 45')
Uruguay line-up: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, M. Pereira, Caceres, Rodriguez (A. Pereira, 87'), Arevalo, Gonzalez, Suarez (Coates, 83'), Forlan, Cavani
Uruguay are now favourites to join Spain and progress from Group B after edging out Nigeria. Diego Forlan celebrated his 100th Uruguayan cap by smashing in the winning goal after Diego Lugano's tap in had been cancelled out by a piece of brilliance from Chelsea's John Obi Mikel. As Nigeria now have to beat Spain and Uruguay should easily beat Tahiti, it looks like Uruguay are in pole position to progress through with Spain.
The fans voted with their feet with the stadium only half full, possibly to do with the protests or possibly because they knew this game wasn't going to be a classic. Either way, the game did leave a lot to be desired. Neither keeper was really tested which was a shame considering the attacking talent that was on show.
The first ten minutes was all Uruguay and Christian Rodriguez came close early on with a rasping shot that was tipped over by Vincent Enyeama. Ahmed Musa had Nigeria's first effort after ten minutes but it rolled harmlessly wide. It was a good job that Fernando Muslera wasn't really worked because he looked rather shaky at the beginning, spilling a few crosses.
The opening goal really came out of nowhere on 19-minutes; a corner was headed back out to Forlan and the former Manchester United man sent in a teasing first time low cross which fell to Lugano who was able to tap it home from five yards.
Forlan almost got lucky shortly after when a Suarez cross hit Forlan as it was attempted to be cleared. The ricochet just fell wide and Nigeria could breathe a sigh of relief. With eight minutes of the half remaining, Nigeria found a way back as the experience Uruguay side looked to tire. Mikel was put through and the Chelsea managed to dip the shoulder to beat Lugano and rifle the ball in to the top corner.
Lugano wasn't having a good couple of minutes as he attempted a poor pass a moment later and it was intercepted by Musa. But Musa's effort wasn't the best and it went harmlessly wide. Nigeria were then dealt a blow as hat-trick hero against Tahiti, Nnamdi Oduamadi, had to go off injured. They also came close just before half-time when Brown Ideye managed to get a header from a corner which was tipped over by Muslera.
The winner ended up coming six minutes in to the second half. Uruguay broke and the ball came to Forlan down the wing. He made strides in to the box before smashing a wonderful effort to really give something memorable on his 100th cap.
It turned out to be a killer blow as Nigeria couldn't find anything to get back in to the game. Without the likes of Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Kalu Uche and even Peter Odemwingie the African champions really lacked a finishing touch. Elderson Echiejile did his best to provide with some great crosses, but they were just a little over hit.
With a big transfer being talked about for Edison Cavani, it was a surprise to see how poor he has performed over the two games so far. He had a few chances to settle the game but failed to even to hit the target. Nigeria did almost equalise in the 95th minute when a corner fell to Echiejile but the shot was saved by the foot of Muslera, but the flag had gone up for offside anyway and Uruguay escaped with the three minutes.
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