Saudi Arabia 2- 2 Nigeria : Last minute free-kick denies Super Eagles morale boosting win

koserenaija.com October 13, 2023 0 Comments

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday evening, October 13 were forced to a 2-2 draw by Saudi Arabia who scored a last-minute free-kick to deny the Super Eagles a victory in the FIFA friendly match.

 

 

The Super Eagles would have won the match after scoring twice in the final minutes of the match

Despite being a goal down, an own goal and a superb strike by Kelechi Iheanacho gave José Peserio’s men a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute, but Saudi Arabia equalized in extra time ending the pulsating match in a draw.

 

 

In the 19th minute,  Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper denied Boniface a chance to open the scoring charts.

 

 

After multiple opportunities and chances to score, the Super Eagles almost scored with 15 minutes left in the first half after Onyemaechi’s cross found Chukwueze, but his curler went just wide.

 

 

Saudi Arabia had their first effort on goal in the 36th minute but goalkeeper Francis Uzoho made a good save.

 

 

In the 43rd minute, Osimhen saw his attempt just pass the cross bar while Ademola Lookman saw his strike go missing after a fine through pass from  Chukwueze.

 

In the second half, after five minutes Iwobi made a timely block off a dangerous cross for a corner that would have gifted Saudi Arabia the opener.

 

Nigeria was forced into an early substitution on 55 minutes as Osimhen went off with a knock and was replaced by Terem Moffi.

 

Saudi Arabia then took the lead in the 60th minute through Salman Al Faraj as Uzoho palmed a swung freekick into the back of the net.

A few minutes later Saudi went close again but defender Calvin Bassey made a very vital block.

In the 68th minute, Boniface tried a shot just outside the box only to see his effort go over the bar.

The Eagles equalised on 72 minutes as Abdulelah Al Amri slotted Moses Simon’s cross into his own net.

Iheanacho made it 2-1 in the 81st minute as he curled into the back of the net after the Saudis failed to clear their lines.

Tall striker, Umar Sadiq should have added the third on 85 minutes but failed to connect with Iheanacho’s cross.

In the 89th minute Iheanacho shit but it was punched away by the keeper.

But in the 99th minute, Mohamed Kanno saw his well-taken freekick take a slight deflection and ended in the back of the net.

Up next for the Super Eagles is another friendly game against Mozambique on Monday, 16 October.