World Cup 2010 - Greece 2 - 1 Nigeria

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 that gives them a fighting chance of reaching the last 16.

Nigeria had taken the lead through Kalu Uche's 16th minute free-kick that eluded a bunch of players in the penalty area and nestled in the corner.

But the game changed with the dismissal of Sani Kaita 12 minutes before half-time, the midfielder showing total ill discipline to kick out at the thigh of Vassilis Torosidis and referee Oscar Ruiz from Colombia had no option but to show the red card.

Dimitris Salpingidis levelled just before half-time and the hitherto outstanding Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama was at fault as he failed to hold Alexandros Tziolis's skidding drive and Torosidis had the simple task of tapping home the 71st minute winner.

Greece need to better South Korea's result in the final round of games to reach round two. The Greeks face Argentina and Korea meet Nigeria.

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.

But Greece, who had lost all of their previous four World Cup matches without scoring a goal before today, will saviour their moment which looked unlikely after falling behind early on.

Nigeria went ahead after Socratis Papastathopoulos was booked for tugging back Peter Odemwingie. Uche's free-kick went over the head of Kostas Katsouranis and Odemwingie and nestled in the corner with keeper Alexandros Tzorvas rooted to his line.

However Kaita's moment of madness gave the 2004 European champions a visible boost with coach Otto Rehhagel immediately looking to capitalise on their numerical advantage by bringing on striker Georgios Samaras for central defender Socratis Papastathopoulos.

Lukman Haruna had cleared off the line from Samaras before the equaliser a minute before the break as Kostas Katsouranis laid off to Salpingidis whose shot was deflected off the heel of Haruna and nestled in the top corner with the stranded Enyeama left with no chance.

Enyeama, the star of Nigeria's 1-0 defeat to Argentina, kept his side on level terms after the break with a superb block to deny Theofanis Gekas from point-blank range.

Nigeria immediately counter-attacked with pace only for Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi to miss an open. Yakubu's effort was repelled by Tzorvas but the follow-up fell invitingly to the sub who failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.

Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos had a host of chances from set-pieces with Enyeama superbly pushing one header destined for the top corner away only to be at fault for the goal.

The Jabulani did play its' part as Tziolis's effort moved in the air and Torosidis was the first to meet the rebound.

Yakubu flashed an effort narrowly past the post but Nigeria failed to create a clear-cut chance to level to leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

Match Facts

Greece v Nigeria

Goals 2-1

1st Half Goals 1-1

Shots on Target 11-3

Blocked Shots 6-2

Blocked Shots 6-2

Corners 11-3

Fouls 13-14

Offsides 3-1

Yellow Cards 3-1

Red Cards 0-1

Passing Success 83.9%-78.5%

Tackles 13-9

Tackles Success 69.2%-77.8%

Possession 57.3%-42.7%

Territorial Advantage 57.7%-42.3%

Argentina 1 - 0 Nigeria

Heinze heads winner

Diego Maradona's World Cup debut as a coach ended in a victory as Lionel Messi started to demonstrate he could transform his club form at Barcelona to the world stage.

• Messi makes his mark
• Maradona tastes success

Gabriel Heinze headed in the only goal after five minutes but Messi, so often unable to reproduce the Nou Camp sparkle on national team duty, was his team's star. However he and his team-mates were unable to make the margin of victory a more convincing one as Vincent Enyeama in the Nigeria goal denied them time and again.

Whether Argentina could waste so many chances against better sides and get away with it remains to be seen, but for now Maradona must be satisfied to have put three points on the board in Group B.

Messi made a lively start and one mesmerising run from deep saw him ghost past three Nigeria defenders and pick out Gonzalo Higuain with a low cross, but the Real Madrid striker sidefooted an easy chance wide from close range. The Barcelona forward then had a goalbound curling shot tipped over by Enyeama.

But from the resulting corner Argentina went ahead, with five minutes played. Juan Sebastian Veron swung the ball in from the right and Marseille defender Heinze, running towards the penalty spot, sent a powerful diving header into the top left corner.

Messi was then allowed to cut in from the right, leaving Chinedu Obasi on his backside and his curling left-footed shot was destined for goal until Enyeama at full stretch parried it away.

Messi and Carlos Tevez were causing confusion for the Nigerians by taking turns to drop deep and move forward, and when the Manchester City man received the ball in a deeper position after 20 minutes his through-ball found Higuain bursting into the box but Enyeama dashed out to make the block.

Sani Kaita miscued an attempted volley wide for the Africans who stepped up the pressure for a short period. Neat passing from Dickson Etuhu and Ayegbeni Yakubu created an opening for Obasi but his low cross was just too far ahead of Yakubu as the Everton man tried to slot it home.

Messi again tested Enyeama to the limit with another curling effort destined for the right-hand corner of the goal but the goalkeeper stretched out his left hand to claw the ball away.

Walter Samuel headed a presentable chance over the top from a Veron corner six minutes into the second half and the Inter Milan defender almost released Angel Di Maria with a long ball but the Benfica man could not bring it under control.

Messi won a corner after a pacy dribble took him away from the Nigeria defence, with Chidi Odiah blocking his effort. A swift break at the other end saw substitute Obafemi Martins square the ball to Kaita, but his 30-yard shot was far too ambitious and sailed over.

The game was becoming more stretched and Tevez strode forward before picking out Messi, whose low left-footed shot was just wide and the Barca man then teed up Higuain, whose shot was again blocked by the ever-alert Enyeama.

Argentina's failure to kill the game off almost cost them as Peter Odemwingie played the ball inside to left-back Taye Taiwo, and his thunderous low effort had the beating of Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero but just skidded wide of the right post.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero then had to punch clear a shot from Martins as the 'Jabulani' World Cup ball threatened to make a mug of him with its changes of movement in the air.

It was clearly not going to be Messi's afternoon to score as Enyeama spread himself to block after a wonderful interchange with Di Maria as the game entered its final 10 minutes.

Nigeria could have levelled seconds later when Yakubu's cross from the right found substitute Kalu Uche, but the Almeria midfielder struggled to get over the ball and could not keep his left-footed shot down, and Yakubu drilled another shot over the top from long range with three minutes left. But it was Argentina's day as the early Heinze effort proved the difference.

Maradona and a transatlantic conflict

Diego Maradona makes his highly-anticipated return to the FIFA World Cup™ today when two group favourites, his Argentina side and Fabio Capello's England, get their campaigns underway. Maradona will make his debut as a coach in the tournament, hoping to lead La Albiceleste  to victory over a Nigeria side hoping for third-time lucky and boosted by 'home' advantage.

The other game in Group B sees Otto Rehhagel's disciplined Greece take on a highly ambitious Korea Republic side, in what has all the hallmarks of a tight encounter. Despite some disappointing warm-up results – two defeats and a draw – Greece's experience may prove crucial although Huh Jung-Moo's Taeguk Warriors, who hope to include injury doubt Lee Dong-Gook in attack, showed in a recent 1-0 loss to Spain and 2-0 win over Japan that they are a force to be reckoned with.

In Group C, England coach Capello will have to compensate for the injury-enforced absences of Rio Ferdinand, ruled out of the competition altogether, and Gareth Barry, who is not yet back to full fitness. The Italian will therefore be doing his utmost to ensure that defender Ledley King remains healthy. England’s friendly results and performances in the build-up did not inspire great confidence, but they will hope to answer their critics in style against USA. The potential repositioning of Steven Gerrard just in front of the defence has the look of a temporary solution, applied to counter the incisive attacking bursts of an American team hoping to reproduce the same shock result they enjoyed in 1950.

The matches
Korea Republic-Greece, Group B, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, 13.30 (local time)
Argentina-Nigeria, Group B, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 16.00 (local time)
England-USA, Group C, Rustenburg, 20.30 (local time)

The big game
Argentina-Nigeria

Ahead of Argentina's opening match against the Super Eagles, Maradona is well aware that his chosen starting XI will provoke much discussion, analysis, criticism and praise back home. The former world champion has promised an attacking line-up, possibly with Lionel Messi operating just behind a front pairing of Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain. Maradona is likely to opt for three at the back, with Martin Demichelis and Gabriel Heinze flanking the vastly experienced Walter Samuel. Highly fancied to go far this time round due to their immense goalscoring potential, La Albiceleste will now need to confirm that potential on the pitch.

In the opposing camp, Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback, though deprived of one of his driving forces, the injured John Obi Mikel, has made it clear that his team are not in South Africa to simply make up the numbers. Nigeria have lost to Argentina at the FIFA World Cup twice before, in 1994 (1-2) and in 2002 (0-1). Nigeria fans, however, will hope that on their own continent they will constitute an altogether different prospect.