#19: Nigeria gunned down by Greece 2-1

AP

Bloemfontein, 17 June 2010: Greece earned its first World Cup win on Thursday, coming from behind to beat 10-man Nigeria 2-1 in Group B.

Vassilis Torosidis scored the winning goal in the 71st minute after a mistake from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to make history for Greece, which had lost all four of its previous World Cup matches.

Enyeama fumbled a low shot from Alexandros Tziolis and Torosidis pounced on the loose ball for the crucial goal.

 

 

Nigeria had taken the lead in the 16th minute at Free State Stadium when Kalu Uche’s curling free kick from 35 meters (yards) deceived everyone and dropped into the corner of the Greece net.

But the game changed in the 33rd when Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita was shown a straight red card for kicking Torosidis on the touchline.

Dimitris Salpingidis equalized in the 44th with a shot that deflected off Lukman Haruna and into the net.

"I think the sending off played a big part in the game," Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo said. "We were controlling the game before the sending off."

Greece and Nigeria both made changes to their lineups after opening game losses left both in desperate need of a victory to kick-start their campaigns.

Nigeria broke through first when Uche’s free kick sailed over the heads of Costas Katsouranis and Peter Odemwingie and into the far corner of the net — with Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas completely confused.

Odemwingie, who had won the free kick, appeared to pull his head out of the way to allow Uche’s effort to carry on towards the Greece goal.

But with Nigeria in control, Kaita’s moment of madness handed Greece its best chance of breaking its World Cup losing streak.

Kaita was sent off by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz after he kicked Torosidis and caught the Greece forward on the upper thigh after the ball had gone out for a throw in.

Greece piled the pressure on the 10 men and made its advantage pay.

Enyeama, who won his second successive man of the match award, then pulled of a string of saves in the second half as Greece attacked Nigeria’s goal.