Argentina produced a commanding performance to beat Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 4-0 in a knockout-stage match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Wednesday.
Alejo Sarco opened the scoring after just two minutes, tapping in from a Dylan Gorosito cross.
Maher Carrizo doubled the lead with a superb left-footed free-kick on 23 minutes and added a second shortly after the interval (53′) to make it 3-0.
Mateo Silvetti capped the scoring with a low finish on 66 minutes, finishing off a move created by Gianluca Prestianni.
The Flying Eagles huffed and puffed but rarely threatened the match rhythm. Daniel Daga saw a close-range effort saved before half-time, and Kparobo Arierhi rattled the post in stoppage time of the first half.
But none of their attacks could find a way past Argentina’s goalkeeper Santino Barbi or break down a disciplined defensive unit.
Meanwhile, Ebenezer Harcourt produced several important saves to limit the damage early on.
Tactical changes came early in the second half as Nigeria’s coach shuffled his pack, introducing Auwal Ibrahim, Abduljelil Kamaldeen, Emmanuel Ekele and Charles Agada in a bid to spark a revival, but Argentina’s control of the midfield and clinical finishing rendered the substitutions ineffective.
- By Saheed Oyelakin @ThePUNCH
