Under-20 W/Cup: F’Ealges Win Again, Berth In Second Round

John Obuh’s Flying Eagles conjured up another five-goal performance as they swept past Croatia 5-2 to power their way into the Under-20 World Cup second round in Colombia early yesterday morning.

Substitute Uche Nwofor claimed two goals, but winger Ahmed Musa shined brightest in a field of shining Flying Eagles lights.

The Nigerians needed a convincing win to dislodge Saudi Arabia, who shot to the top of the group with a 6-0 thumping of Guatemala earlier on, and they made a cracking start. Abdul Jeleel Ajagun slipped in an excellent ball to Kayode Olanrewaju following a mesmerising Nigerian passing sequence, and the forward, timing his run to perfection, finished with a low shot under the keeper.

It was 2-0 soon after. Marauding left back Terna Suswan was allowed way too much sight of goal, and unleashed a contender for goal of the tournament from 25 yards. The Flying Eagles have suffered from poor defending, and when Suswan went through his man with just minutes to halftime, it looked ominous.

And so it proved. Zvonko Pamic delivered, the Nigerian centre backs mucked around, the ball fell kindly to Ivan Lendric four yards out and Dami Paul stood no chance.

That seemed to be the cue for the Europeans to punch forward in the second half, but they were soon deflated by Musa, who drove in a rasping effort from distance that again, left the keeper with no chance.

Again, the Nigerians were pegged back. and again, it was a set piece from Pamic. This time, Andrej Kramaric applied the finish with a decisive header.

Obuh threw on Uche Nwofor, and the striker, who top scored at the African Youth Championship, wasted little time staking a claim for a starting shirt.

Musa blitzed his way into the Croatia area, leaving defenders in his wake before laying it up for the Enugu Rangers man.

And then Suswan delivered a superb cross for him to nip in between two  defenders and finish. Nigeria, who found goals hard to come by in pre-tournament friendlies, have now hit 10 in two games without really stepping past second gear.

They will now be confident of battering their way past Saudi Arabia, when their battle for group supremacy comes around on Saturday.

Croatia, on  their part, will hope that a basketful of goals against Guatemala will earn them a place as one of the best losers, as long as results elsewhere go their way.