NIGERIA'S men's Olympic football team will now slug it out for the bronze medal with Honduras on Saturday after losing out on a potential gold clash with hosts Brazil in the final following a 0-2 loss to Germany last night.
In a match determined by two goals at the very beginning and near the end, the Dream Team VI lacked the usual hunger, desire, energy and pace that has come to characterise Nigerian teams. In the ninth minute the team conceded a goal from in the 88th minute and were caught on the counter attack as it searched for an equaliser, knocking Nigeria out of gold medal contention.
Against the expectation of Brazilian fans at the Sao Paulo stadium yesterday, Germany created the better chances, while Nigeria hardly troubled the opposing defence, who adopted the offside tactic to curtail their offensive threat. Germany deserved their lead after nine minutes through big defender Lukas Klostermann, who steered home a low cross from the right.
After Germany's opener, Nigeria were gifted a big chance by the German goalkeeper Timo Horn to equalise three minutes later after his poor clearance fell to Sadiq Umar inside the box but he somehow blocked the effort. Then in the 20th minute, Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel made a point-blank save off Lars Bender to keep his team in the game.
On the half hour, Sadiq Umar and then Mikel Obi could not capitalise on another slip by the German defence. However, Germany created the better chances in the first half when skipper Meyer saw his shot from outside the box miss target not by much and two minutes later, Davie Selke’s shot from top of the box was firmly held by the Nigeria goalie.
In the 42nd minute, Selke failed to get a good touch to another low cross from the right with Troost-Ekong breathing down his neck, before Serge Gnabry failed to make the most of another good chance minutes later. In first half stoppage time, Sadiq Umar put Umar Aminu through on goal, only for a German tackle right inside the box put the ball out for a corner.
Earlier in the day, Neymar scored twice for Brazil as they crushed Honduras 6-0 in the other semi final. He scored his first goal after only 14 seconds, the fastest goal in Olympic football history, as Brazil reached the final in Rio.
After his opener, Barcelona forward Neymar dispossessed Johnny Palacios to put the hosts ahead. Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus scored twice, Marquinhos and Luan both netted from close range and Neymar completed the rout with an injury-time penalty.
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