Greece 2-1 Nigeria - Line-Ups/Stats
World Cup 2010 Results/Standings
Greece made Nigeria pay for the sending off of Sani Kaita by clinching a 2-1 win, leaving the Super Eagles on the verge of World Cup elimination.

Kalu Uche's free kick put Nigeria ahead, but after Kaita's red card for a kick on Vasilis Torosidis, Dimitrios Salpingidis equalised. Torosidis then rubbed salt in Kaita's wounds by striking a 71st minute winner.

Knowing that a loss would earn either side an early flight out of South Africa, Greece and Nigeria aimed for victory in Bloemfontein by taking a very cautious approach to proceedings early on.

With neither side willing to concede, it appeared neither Greece or Nigeria were keen on taking any risks in the opening minutes. A conservative approach by both sides limited attacking play in the early going to speculative efforts by both sides, the most notable attempt a long-distance effort from Kostas Katsouranis as the Panathinaikos midfielder unsuccessfully tried to catch Vincent Enyeama off his line.

But while one ‘keeper was up to the test, the other, Greece’s Alexandros Tzorvas, didn’t appear to be on his game as Nigeria shocked the Greeks with an early goal. A seemingly harmless free-kick opportunity  for the Super Eagles turned lethal for the Greeks when Tzorvas, who anticipated a deflection from Peter Odemwingie, leaped in the opposite direction the ball was heading and Uche’s effort went in untouched.

The Greeks, in need of a response, found it hard to conjure up their first-ever World Cup goal as the Nigerians looked content to defend their early lead. Nevertheless, Greece’s fortunes appeared to be changing when Sani Kaita was dismissed for an undisciplined kick at the thigh of Vasilis Torosidis.

A straight red card for Kaita left Nigeria with just about an hour left on the clock at the Free State Stadium.

The Greeks looked to pounce on the opportunity and it didn’t take long for Greece coach Otto Rehhagel to adjust his tactics as Sokratis Papastathopoulos, a holding midfielder in Greece’s original plans, made way for a third striker in Giorgos Samaras.

Now boasting an attacking trident, the Greeks showed life going forward, a far reality in their clash with South Korea just five days ago. But the Greeks showed new colours as they piled bodies forward and very nearly equalized through Theofanis Gekas, but Enyeama showed his brilliance as he denied the newly-signed Eintracht Frankfurt striker Greece’s first-ever goal in a World Cup.

The long wait of 16 years without a goal was soon put an end by Dimitrios Salpingidis though as the Panathinaikos striker had luck on his side when his effort took a deflection off Lukman Haruna and into the far corner of the Nigerian net.

The goal came just in time for Greece as the voodoo that haunted the Galanoleuki since their first World Cup appearance in 1994 was finally put to rest. Still, Greece needed another goal in the second half as a draw wasn’t a result that the Greeks could necessarily afford.

Realising what was required, the Greeks came out gunning in the second frame, restricting the Nigerians to their own half and leaving the crowd on the edge of their seats. Giorgos Karagounis very nearly sent the Greek contingent in the stands into pandemonium when his header came within inches of beating Enyeama.

Greece continued to press and Gekas surely forced the best out of Enyeama when his header for the far post was denied by the outstretched arm of Enyeama.

Meanwhile, Nigeria nearly turned the tables on the Greeks as Ayigbeni Yakubu, whose evening was ruined with his side’s shift to defensive tactics, was sent on a break and the Everton man was only denied by a fine save from Alexandros Tzorvas.

Greece took confidence from their ‘keeper’s heroics as Tzorvas’ save was rewarded with a second goal for Greece through Vasilis Torosidis. A grounded effort from Alexandros Tziolis was saved by Enyeama but Olympiacos defender Torosidis was there for the rebound and tucked a finish into the bottom corner of the Nigeria goal on 71 minutes.

In the lead and in control, Rehhagel opted to give Sotiris Ninis his first bit of action as the Panathinaikos starlet made way for Gekas, who despite not scoring, certainly gave a worthy effort for the Pirate Ship.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s progress was handcuffed by the Super Eagles lack in numbers as Lars Lagerback’s men could only rely on set-pieces to challenge the Greeks in the dying moments. But like pillars, the Greek defense stood strong to oversee a historic evening in Bloemfontein as the Greeks not only scored their first-ever goals in a World Cup final tournament, but also earned their first ever World Cup win to put themselves in the vying to progress to the round of 16.