U.S BASED Bright Dike scored a 55th minute cracker to grant Nigeria’s Super Eagles a hard fough victory over Catalonian counterparts, thanks to away goals rule after Wednesday’s friendly ended in a 1-1 score line.
The Portland Timbers striker who was enjoying his second spell for the Stephen Keshi tutored-side after his debut in last year’s friendly against Venezuela, joined force in a two-man striking force with Dynamo Kiev’s Brown Ideye.
Interestingly, as early as the second minute, AC Milan striker, Bojan Krkic missed putting the Catalan XI in front from close range via a Joan Verdu cross.
However, a minute later, Sergio Gonzalez converted from the spot to put Catalonia 1-0 up after the centre referee, Xavier Estrada Fernandez, adjudged Fengor Ogude to have handled the ball in the box.
Bojan was put through on goal and skipped past Nigeria captain and goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim before Azubuike Egwuekwe hooked the ball clear.
Three minutes past the half hour mark, Bojan nearly got on the end of Xavi’s chip leaving an onrushing Agbim missing the ball all together.
In spite of Nigeria’s Super Eagles stemming the wave of Catalonia attack, Barcelona right-back, Martin Montoya still had the time to ghost past Benjamin Francis before his square pass into the box is missed by everyone with ten minutes to the break.
Catalonia centre-back, Gerard Pique came close with six minutes to half time after getting on to the end of Xavi’s free kick but Agbim narrowed him down.
Nigeria carved out the last chance of the first half when SS Lazio youngster, Ogenyi Onazi attempted an audacious strike from all of 40 yards but it inched just wide over Francisco Casilla’s cross bar.
Catalonia started the business end as the first with lots of ball possession.
On 53 minutes, Martin Montoya was through on goal but Nigeria’s skipper on the night, Agbim bravely foiled his attempt on goal inside the box.
Two minutes later, out of the blues, Dike latched on to Onazi’s through pass before cutting inside of his marker to blasting past Casilla to put score at 1-1 inside the Estadi Cornella-El Prat in Espanyol.
Catalonia came close to taking the lead with 18 minutes left, as Cristian Tello’s wonderful cut back to Jonathan Soriano into the box was blasted over the post.
With nine minutes to play, the Eagles ventured forward with Emmanuel Emenike played through on goal from Kenneth Omeruo’s long ball but his shot is blocked by Getafe keeper, Jordi Codina.
In the last five minutes, Nigeria kept the shape of their defence against the tiki-taka playing Seleccio Catalana.
But with a minute to regulation time, Tello failed to score on his debut for Catalonia when he blazed over the post after he was played on face-to-face with Agbim.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles used the game against the Catalan XI as a pre-African Cup of Nations game.
