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| Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left), competing with Nigeria’s Joel Obi (centre), Mikel Obi (right) and Elderson Echiejile (back) during their friendly game in Bangladesh ... on Tuesday |
The Eagles, fresh from their 2-0 win over Madagascar on Sunday and captained by Mikel Obi for the first time, had defeated the Argentines 4-1 in their June 1 friendly but the Tuesday encounter had no similarity to the Abuja duel as Barcelona playmaker, Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain took the Nigerian defence apart.
Higuain opened scoring in the 25th minute with an 18-yard strike which caught goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba off his line. His Real Madrid teammate, Angel Di Maria, increased the tally two minutes later, latching on a rebound from Aiyenugba after Messi had pierced through the Nigerian defence like hot knife through butter.
The South Americans dominated ball possession in the first half but the Eagles bounced back in the second after a number of changes made by coach Samson Siasia.
Their efforts paid off as Hoffeinham forward Chinedu Obasi pulled one back for Nigeria in the 47th minute but a defensive blunder from Elderson Echiejile in the 66th minute resulted in an own-goal.
The Eagles appeared uncoordinated in the attack as Argentine defenders Javier Mascherano, Pablo, Zabaleta and Nicolas Burdisso frustrated most of their moves. Each of Nigeria’s missed chances got Siasia putting his arms on his head and shouting on top of his voice but it was obvious that the team lacked cohesion.
It was coach Alejandro Sabella’s second game since taking charge of the Albicelestes, following the sacking of Sergio Batista who led them to Nigeria in June.
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