The Nation Newspaper

Tag: saves

  • Agu saves Nembe City

    Nembe City goalkeeper Ifeanyi Agu became hero yesterday as he saved two penalties to help his side advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Ibom Youth 4-2 on penalties in the Federation Cup round of 32 clash at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    The tension shocked match ended 0-0 at the end of the regulation time.

    The John Aranka tutored-side kept pressure on the youth side but the Ebonyi state-based side survived the anxiety to stretch the game to penalty shoot-out.

    In a chat with sportingLife after the game, Nembe City media officer, Gbenga Adeleye said: “I am happy we won at the end of the shootout but penalty is a game of luck. We had chance to win the game at open play but our players failed to find the back of the net. Credit must be given to Ibom Youths for giving good account of themselves. We will correct our mistakes ahead of round of 16.”

     

  • Uche Yarma saves Gombe United

    Uche Yarma saves Gombe United

    Alone strike from Uche Yarma 15 minutes from full time at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi helped Gombe United claim a 1-0 win over FC Taraba

    Gombe United approached the game winless in their last two games and in search for their first win at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium since their banishment a month ago over crowd trouble from their traditional home ground, the Pantami Stadium in Gombe.

    They started the game brightly but faded towards the end of the half with striker and Glo League top scorer Adamu Mohammed wasted two good chances to put his team in the lead going into the break .

    The half ended 0-0 with Gombe United clearly the better team in terms of ball possession and chances created.

    Gombe United later got rewarded for their dominance when Uche Yarma broke the deadlock to put them 1-0 up.

    The goal ended up being the winning goal helping Gombe United claim their first win in five games in their last match at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

    They are due to return to their traditional home ground the Pantami Stadium in the second stanza of the campaign, after playing  three home matches in Bauchi completing their punishment for crowd trouble.

  • Nwofor saves Eagles

    Nwofor saves Eagles

    A last-minute equaliser by Uche Nwofor saw Nigeria draw 2-2 with Scotland in a pre-World Cup international friendly played at Craven Cottage yesterday.

    The match hit the headlines earlier this week when the National Crime Agency announced that it had launched a match-fixing investigation into the tie.

    Inter Milan Joel Obi led an early charge by the designated home side, resulting in Michael Uchebo testing Allan McGregor, but the Scots were able to survive the pressure.

    The Tartan Warriors caught the Super Eagles out as a Charlie Mulgrew flick beat a helpless Eagles defence and made a little mockery of on-rushing goalkeeper, Austin Ejide.

    Rangers International of Enugu winger, Ejike Uzoenyi  tried to get the AFCON champions back on level terms, but his 30-yard effort failed to trouble McGregor, while the Hull City keeper also denied out of contract, Shola Ameobi a few minutes later.

    Nigeria, however, ensured that they equalised before the end of the first half as gangling Michael Uchebo found space in the box to deflect a strike into the back of the net to send the Nigerian fans at the Fulham Craven Cottage to wild celebration.

    Scotland restored their lead early in the second half when the Sunshine Stars of Akure defender put the ball in the Eagles net as he tried to clear from a James Morrison tap in.

    A few minutes later, Scotland thought they had increased their lead to 3-1 with just over an hour played, but Shaun Maloney was flagged offside by the second assistant ref as he tapped in.

    Nwofor then rescued Nigeria from a possible defeat after his shot from close range passed McGregor, to hand Coach Stephen Keshi’s side a much needed draw.

    However, Odunlami’s dream to play in the Mundial appears to have been dashed after he was stretchered off in the 74th minute as a result of a suspected knee injury.

    The CHAN Eagles workaholic defender will be expected to have a scan on his knee to tell the extent of the injury if it is tendon damage or muscle tear.

  • Mum saves baby from abductor

    That would make a man steal another human being? Money? Fame? Fun?

    For  Victor Edem Bassey from Akpabuyo in Cross River State, it is the harsh economic reality.

    The state, especially, the capital, Calabar, has been under the seige of child abductors. Most of the children kidnapped are never found.

    Bassey (30) was arrested at the weekend after a failed attempt to snatch babies from Mrs. Priscillia Christopher and another unnamed woman.

    The suspect said he was introduced to the business by his friend.

    The kidnap attempt, which occured at 8 Miles in Calabar, was foiled by security operatives.

    It was gathered that Bassey and an accomplice pretended to be passengers waiting for a cab on the Murtala Mohammed highway.

    Another accomplice, posing as a commercial driver, was carrying Mrs. Christopher, who was with her eight-month-old baby girl, Emmanuela.

    Another unsuspecting woman was also in the car with her baby boy.

    Mrs. Christopher, 23, who was travelling to her village, Idoma in Biase Local Government Area, said: “I was travelling to my village and I boarded a taxi at Pyramid. When we got to Army junction, two men stopped the driver and entered. We thought they were passengers.

    “When they got inside, they tried to take our babies, saying the driver should stop the car. I started struggling with them. I was sitting in front. There was another woman in the back with a baby too.

    “The other man tried to take her baby too. Her baby was a boy; mine, a girl.

    “The suspect was trying to pull out my baby from her carrier. As he was struggling, he bruised her hand. The baby was crying, and I was shouting for help.

    “He then pushed me and I fell out of the vehicle with my daughter. Some security agents came and arrested the suspect. I don’t know where the others went.”

    Mrs. Christopher said Emmanuela was also injured.

    Bassey said he was to take the stolen children to Albertino, who was introduced to him by his friend, Essien.

    The suspect, a father of a 13-year – old son, said:  “I was a taxi driver. I took ill and the owner of the car collected it from me. Things became tough and my wife left me.

    “Then Essien came to me and told me about this business. He said he would take me to his boss, who would help me.

    “He introduced me to this man called Albertino, who said he would solve all my problems, if I bring babies to him. He did not say he would pay me anything but he promised to solve all my problems.

    “I met him at a bar at 8 Miles. But I don’t know where he lives. He was driving a Pathfinder Sports Utility Van. I met him at the Old Market Road.”

  • Namibia 1-1 Nigeria: Oboabona saves Nigeria

    Namibia 1-1 Nigeria: Oboabona saves Nigeria

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Wednesday forced Namibia’s Brave Warriors to a 1-1 draw in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match thanks to an 83rd minute well executed free-kick from Godfrey Oboabona.

    The encounter which was decided at the artificial turf of Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek saw Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi dropping Brown Ideye to the substitute bench for Anthony Ujah. Both sides failed to break the deadlock at the end of 45 minutes.

    Just like it happened in the Malawi, Kenya game played earlier in the day, both sides left it late. It was substitute Deon Kavendji who replaced Lazarus Kaimbi that got the opener for the Brave Warriors in the 69th minute with less than a minute on the pitch.

    However, with seven minutes from regulation time, Oboabona silenced the scanty home crowd who were already jubilating with the equaliser.

    With this performance, the Keshi-tutored side must now work towards a draw or a win in September’s last Group F qualifying match against Malawi’s Flames in Calabar.

    Nigeria currently leads Group F with 9 points but are closely followed by Malawi with 7 points while Namibia and Kenya’both have 5 and 3 points respectively from 5 matches.

  • Bright Dike saves Eagles

    Bright Dike saves Eagles

    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.

  • Sivasspor 2-2 Bursaspor: Eneramo’s goal saves the day

    Sivasspor 2-2 Bursaspor: Eneramo’s goal saves the day

    fORGOTTEN Nigerian international striker Michael Eneramo scored to salvage a point for Sivasspor in their 2-2 draw with Bursaspor.

    Busrsaspor stunned their hosts to take the lead through a goal from Deniz Okan in the 13th minute, and despite a frantic search for an equaliser by the hosts, the score remained the same at half-time.

    Sivasspor carried their search for an equaliser into the second half, but it was Bursaspor that scored again to extend their lead through a a goal from Daniel Belluschi in the 59th minute.

    Despite being two goals down Eneramo and his teammates refused to give up the fight as they contined to pile pressure on Bursaspor.

    Their moment finally arrived when Sivasspor rallied back with two goals in just two mintues to even the scores.

    Jakub Navratil found the back of the net in the 85th minute to give the hosts a chance to get back into the game and, before celebrations could simmer down, Eneramo struck for the hosts in the 87th minute to level the scores.

    Eneramo has now scored two goals in six games for Sivasspor this season.