World Cup 2018: Ahmed Musa double sees Nigeria join the party

The World Cup´s group of death is going to the wire – and may yet claim Argentina as a stunningly high-profile victim.

As Lionel Messi, and the whole of Argentina, looked on from behind settees and peered through fingers, Nigeria shook off their first-half torpor to claim a victory over Iceland that leaves the two-time world champions bottom of Group D – and needing victory when they meet the Africans in St Petersburg on Tuesday.

Both goals came from Ahmed Musa, a player deemed not good enough by Leicester City, and duly sent back whence he came, on loan to CSKA Moscow.

Russia evidently suits him better than the east Midlands on the evidence of two fine goals – after 49 and 75 minutes – which ensured Nigeria climbed into second place in the section with three points, two clear of both Iceland and Argentina.

For Argentina, an Iceland victory would have been worse; they know they will climb above Nigeria with a win, albeit their fate then would also depend on the result between Iceland and group winners Croatia.

Iceland could yet snatch second place too, though it will take all of their famed willpower to pick themselves up after this defeat. It summed up their evening when Gylfi Sigurdsson flashed over the crossbar a late penalty awarded by VAR, following a Tyronne Ebuehi foul on Alfred Finnbogason.

For the first half at least, Iceland were the better team against a Nigeria team showing only a marginal improvement on their limp display in losing to Croatia last Saturday. Inside three minutes Sigurdsson had tested Francis Uzoho, Nigeria’s teenage goalkeeper, with a 25-yard free-kick. The Everton midfielder then had a clean sight of goal from open play but wasted the opportunity by shooting too close to Uzoho.

Iceland´s bright start meant we had the first thunderclap of the evening inside 12 minutes yet – despite the long throws and corners and crosses – the action was fitful. Sigurdsson swung in a fabulous free-kick with half-time approaching but Alfred Finnbogason did not make a clean connection and the ball flew wide.

The Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr, had altered his formation, going with a back three – as he had in the 4-2 win over Argentina last November. Rohr gave captain John Obi Mikel a deeper midfield role after his much-criticised deployment as a No10 against Croatia though it was the introduction of Musa – together with Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho – that would prove telling.

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Not straight away, mind, Nigeria failing to get in a single first-half shot. Not until the first minute of the second period did Hannes Halldorsson make a save, smothering a shot by Oghenekaro Etebo.

Musa’s breakthrough strike capped a swift counter following an Iceland throw-in. Victor Moses raced up down the right and crossed into the box to Musa. The striker raised a leg to bring the ball down and then, with his second touch, thrashed it high into the net on the half-volley. To salt the wound, he caught Ragnar Sigurdsson as he turned away to celebrate, inflicting a head injury that led to the centre-back’s eventual withdrawal.

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Nigeria had the lively Moses and Ebuehi, a half-substitute, pushed higher up the pitch in the second period. They had the wind in their sails too – and the Russians in the crowd chanting “Nigeria”. Wilfred Ndidi nearly added a second goal with a long-range strike that Halldorsson turned over. Then Musa struck the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, though, Musa did get his second goal, securing a result that throws the section wide open, cutting inside and rounding Halldorrson to score. That just left Sigurdsson to cap an unhappy evening with his missed penalty. Over to you, Argentina.