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Scotland have to settle for a draw as Nigeria snatch late equaliser Scotland have to settle for a draw as Nigeria snatch late equaliser
(about 3 hours later)
For Scotland these are unexpected times, even if they squandered a fifth victory in six at the death here. Gordon Strachan’s side performed well against a Nigeria team that will soon be flying out to the World Cup and provided further hope that the wilderness years are drawing to an end. For the Super Eagles, their fans danced jubilantly as Uche Nwofor swept in a late equaliser, but there is work to be done before Brazil. The Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi, insisted his players are “not gamblers” after his side twice came from behind to deny Scotland a fifth victory in six. His comments came after Gordon Strachan’s side produced an impressive performance to provide further hope that their years in the wilderness are coming to an end.
In fairness to Stephen Keshi, the Nigeria manager, this was an experimental evening during which their big hitters were either absent or watched the majority of the match from the dugout. It was a chance for the reserves to stake a claim for a golden ticket, yet few managed to even open the wrapper. Before this game the Scottish Football Association was contacted by the National Crime Agency about a potential match-fixing threat. In the end Nigeria secured a draw in the 90th minute through Uche Nwofor, adding to an earlier effort from Michael Uchebo and cancelling out Charlie Mulgrew’s improvised opener and an own-goal from Azubuike Egwuekwe.
Michael Uchebo was one, and it was his deflected strike that cancelled out a superb piece of early improvisation from Charlie Mulgrew before an own goal from Azubuike Egwuekwe swung things back in Scotland’s favour. In an incident that was timed unfortunately given the events of the week the Nigeria goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, appeared to deflect the ball into his own net under pressure from Grant Hanley in the first half, with the referee eventually disallowing the goal. Keshi said: “I don’t think it [the match-fixing investigation] had anything to do with our build-up or the game. I don’t even know where that is coming from. We don’t know what happened, match-fixing or no match-fixing.
How Strachan would love to be preparing his side to face Iran, Bosnia Herzegovina and Argentina this summer instead of Nigeria. He can take great solace from the performance here, though, on a night when Scotland blooded two youngsters, Andrew Robertson making his first start and Craig Forsyth his debut. “This is the first time I’ve been a coach or been a player and the first time I’m hearing this, match-fixing. I don’t think it had anything to do with our build-up or the game. We did [talk about it] because it’s something ridiculous, something that we don’t know where it’s coming from. We’re not gamblers, we are football players.”
The Nigeria players, hoping to impress Stephen Keshi and secure themselves a ticket to Brazil, did not start well. In fact, the defence, which included Joseph Yobo at centre-half, were all over the place. Keshi rested several of his key players and selected a second-string side that included Shola Ameobi in attack while Efe Ambrose, Peter Odemwingie and Victor Moses sat on the bench. For Scotland these are unexpected times, even if they squandered a victory at the death here. Strachan’s side performed well against a Nigeria team that will soon be flying out to the World Cup as he blooded two youngsters: Andrew Robertson making his first start and Craig Forsyth his debut.
Scotland sensed the vulnerability amid the carnival atmosphere and it was a man whose international career could have been played out in the green of the Super Eagles who tore them apart time and again. Ikechi Anya, the Watford attacker, made his Scotland debut in September although he has a Nigerian father and could have been preparing for a first World Cup. The result means Scotland can begin preparing for their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, beginning on 7 September in Germany, with optimism. “We could have ended up with four or five goals and that’s the first time I have said that. In terms of play so far that’s as good as it gets,” said Strachan, who refused to be drawn on the match-fixing threat. “Overall I think there was a bit of flair and imagination. It is something we have been working on and we want to take it up a level, Nigeria are a terrific side and they upped their level and pressure.”
Nigeria’s defence of Yobo, Kunle Odunlami, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Elderson Echiéjilé looked ragged, with Anya and the single striker for Scotland, Steven Naismith, finding space with regularity. The Super Eagles were not at their best but in fairness this was an experimental evening during which their big hitters were either absent or watched the majority of the match from the dugout. It was a chance for the reserves to stake a claim for a golden ticket, yet few managed to even open the wrapper.
Uchebo eventually found his way past McGregor four minutes before half-time, but not before Scotland had demonstrated qualities of their own. The Nigeria players hoping to impress Keshi did not start well. In fact, the defence, which included Joseph Yobo at centre-half, were all over the place. Keshi rested several key players and selected a second-string side that included Shola Ameobi in attack while Efe Ambrose, Peter Odemwingie and Victor Moses were invited to sit on the bench.
Strachan’s side took the lead in the 10th minute through Mulgrew, who expertly flicked Morrison’s shot over the goalkeeper Austine Ejide when the initial effort was flying wide. Ejide stood helpless as the ball looped over his head. Scotland sensed the vulnerability amid the carnival atmosphere and it was a man whose international career could have been played out in the green of the Super Eagles who tore them apart time and again. Anya, the Watford attacker, made his Scotland debut in September although he has a Nigerian father and could have been preparing for a first World Cup.
Ameobi fizzed a vicious left-foot volley straight at McGregor before Nigeria equalised, through another deflection. The ball fell to Uchebo in midfield and then the tall striker ran into space before pulling the trigger and watching the ball hit Hanley, wrong-foot McGregor and eventually sail into the net. Strachan’s side took the lead in the 10th minute through Mulgrew, who expertly flicked James Morrison’s shot over Ejide when the initial effort was flying wide. Ejide stood helpless as the ball looped over his head.
Chris Martin replaced Naismith at half-time and provided Scotland with a more direct option in attack. He linked well with Anya, Morrison and Shaun Maloney, and eventually the pressure told. Ameobi fizzed a vicious left-foot volley straight at McGregor before Nigeria equalised through another deflection when the ball fell to Uchebo in midfield. The tall striker ran into space before pulling the trigger and watching the ball hit Hanley, wrong-foot McGregor and eventually sail into the net.
Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle United, had a rare chance at the other end following some impressive endeavour from Uchebo, the ball running to the striker inside the penalty area but McGregor saving low down with his feet. Scotland, however, regained the lead in the 52nd minute, Egwuekwe putting past his own goalkeeper following an excellent run and cross from Hutton down the right and with the defender under pressure from Morrison. Odunlami stretched on the line but could only send the ball crashing into the net. Scotland regained the lead in the 52nd minute when Egwuekwe put past his own goalkeeper following an excellent run and cross from Hutton down the right and with the defender under pressure from Morrison. However, Nwofor capitalised on some woeful defending from Hanley in the 90th minute to sweep the ball home from close range.
The substitutions began to flow and the chances continued to come, with neither defence covering themselves in glory.
Nigeria rallied as the match drew to a close and equalised in the 90th minute, Nwofor capitalizing on some woeful defending from Hanley to sweep in from close range.