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An improved Nigeria Flying Eagles made it two wins in two at the FIFA U20 World Cup after seeing off Italy with an excellent display. Casadei who?
Nigeria is through to the knockout stages of the FIFA U20 World Cup following a hard-fought win over Italy in Group D.
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22:07 - 23.05.2023
U20 World Cup: 'Flying Eagles can neutralize Italy's armoury' - Ladan Bosso says
The fixture slated for Estadio Malvinas Argentina in Mendoza will kick off at 7 pm Nigerian time.
Salem Lawal and Jude Sunday were the heroes of the day as he netted the decisive goal that gave the Flying Eagles a deserved 2-0 win on Wednesday at Mendoza.
Both goals in the encounter were scored in the second half to give Nigeria the all-important three points and a ticket to the knockout stages.
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22:51 - 23.05.2023
U20 World Cup: AC Milan youngster Eletu reveals what Flying Eagles must do against Italy
Victory for either side on Wednesday will seal qualification to the knockout stages for the winner.
Italy vs Nigeria - how it happened
The first half was indeed a game of few chances with nothing to separate both sides in the top-of-the-table clash.
Italy started on the front foot, dominated the opening quarter of the game and should taken the lead when Cesare Casadei rattled the Nigerian woodwork in the 21st minute.
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Nigeria took control of the game thereafter and also created some decent chances through Jude Sunday and Salim Lawal whose effort on the half-hour was Nigeria’s best.
However, his left-footed strike was tame but forced the Italian goalkeeper to a good save.
Eight minutes before the break, there was a scare when the VAR called the attention of the referee after Solomon Agbalaka handled the ball in the box. But after the review, his blushes were saved as an Italian forward handled the ball in the build-up.
Italy had another chance just moments before half time when Italy’s Tommaso Baldanzi unleashed a fierce effort, with Nigeria’s goalkeeper keeping scores level at the break.
Second half
Nigeria’s Ladan Bosso made two quick changes just before the start of the second half with Tochukwu Nnadi and Emmanuel Ume coming on for Samon Lawal and Ibrahim Muhammad.
Italy started the brightest again before making changes of their own with four players sent in between the 51st and 59th minute.
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However, it was Bosso’s tactical change that produce results as one of the substitutes Ume teed up Lawal for the breakthrough.
Nigeria held on to their lead until Sunday wrapped things up with a second in added time to seal the win and progress to the knockout stage.
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