Eagles lose 3-2 to Portugal

The Flying Eagles lost 3-2 to Portugal  in their Group B  opening game of Turkey 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Kayseri on Friday.

Earlier, South Korea beat Cuba 2-1 in the other group match. Portugal and Korea are tied in the table on three points, but the Europeans lead on goal difference.

A brace from captain Abdul Ajagun, after being 2-0 down at half-time, was not enough for Nigeria, as a double from Bruma, and  Aladje’s strike earned  Portugal  victory.

After a slow start, Portugal began to make the best of the running. A neat, slaloming run from Bruma saw an early sight of goal open up, but his wayward effort did not trouble Chukwunenye Okani.

Nigeria made their way back into the game, Portugal went closer still to opening the scoring. A fine cross whipped across by Joao Cancelo found Aladje, but his stretched effort crept wide.

The pressure finally told soon after, though. This time Bruma made no mistake, slotting confidently past the advancing Okani following a slick pass by  Joao Mario.

Aladje made it 2-0 minutes later. Bruma was found in all sorts of space on the left, and when Okani could only palm his shot, Aladje was happy to tap into the open net.

While Nigeria had their chances to draw a goal back, none were better than  Ajagun’s two efforts from close range, forcing Sa into a stunning double save right on half-time.

After the break Nigeria looked keen to reduce the deficit, and they did just that on the hour mark. A sublime through-ball from Olarenwaju Kayode found  Ajagun, who this time beat Sa with a deft dink over the onrushing keeper.

Ajagun then drew Nigeria  level with an even better effort. A deep corner found him all alone in the Portugal penalty area, where he controlled the ball and sublimely curled it into the far corner of Sa’s goal.

In what was now an end-to-end game, Nigeria’s joy was short-lived. Bruma got his second of the game less than two minutes later, after Ricardo Esgaio’s through ball, slotting inside the near post from the edge of the area.