Flying Eagles players celebrating one of the goals scored against ArgentinaÂ
By Our Reporter
News emanating from the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan stadium is a palatable one as the Flying Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup after thrashing host Argentina 2-0 the second-round fixture on Thursday
Flying Eagles qualified for the second round as one of the best losers from its group.
Surprisingly, Flying Eagles defeated Argentina, who finished top of their group with maximum points to progress to the quarter-final.
Ladan Bosso made three changes to the lineup that lost 2-0 to Brazil in their final group game. Benjamin Fredrick returned to the backline while Emmanuel Umeh and Victor Eletu made way for Tochukwu Nnadi and Ibrahim Muhammad.
Nigeria almost got a shocking lead in the ninth minute, but Ibrahim Muhammed stroked the ball just inches away from the upright.
At the resumption of the secind half, Bosso brought on Umeh and Haliru Sarki for Salim Fago Lawal and Jude Sunday. The changes improved the drabness in the Nigerian final third immediately.
A few minutes later, the Flying Eagles sent the noisy home crowd quiet. Umeh fought off a defender and scooped a through pass to Muhammed at the edge of Argentina’s goal area. The winger made no mistake and sent the ball beyond an onrushing Gomes Gerth into the net.
The Argentines reacted accordingly to the goal as they poured forward in search of an equaliser. But Kingsley Aniaboso, the Nigerian goalkeeper, made important stops to prevent the opponents from scoring opportunities.
Bosso brought Eletu to replace Muhammed, and the substitute turned the provider of the second goal of the game.
The Flying Eagles are billed to play the winner of the clash between South Korea and Ecuador in the quarter-final.
