Chelsea: Victor Moses, Kenneth Omeruo led Nigeria on either side of the ball
By George Perry
Nigeria needed 139 minutes of the World Cup to fly like Super Eagles, but once they did they lived up to their name and their kit. Chelsea’s Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo played leading roles as Ahmed Musa took the headlines and highlights.
Nigeria shifted to a 3-5-2 for their second World Cup game. This move sent Victor Moses to his usual and now more comfortable assignment as right wing-back. Even as Iceland stifled Nigeria for the first half, Moses was the Super Eagles’ most important creator. The Chelsea man also helped flip the script between the two halves, putting Nigeria in command of the tempo and the style of play.
Nigeria played the first half as though they had not watched any game film of Iceland. They did not have any solutions for getting through or around Iceland’s disciplined, organized and simply stacked defence. Nigeria’s attempted crosses into the box exemplified their uncreative futility. Iceland had the height and organizational advantage to win every aerial duel in the box, with their second line of defenders ready to clear the second ball out.
The side came alive after Ahmed Musa’s 49′ goal. Iceland stretched their lines a bit to hold open the possibility of chasing an equalizer. That was all the space Nigeria needed to let their game flow.
Victor Moses pinned Iceland back on the flank and then in their box. He was a ready outlet on the flank, looking either for a short pass from the centre-backs or midfielders, or taking a long ball in stride. This limited Iceland’s ability to push their full-backs or even their midfielders forward. Once Moses entered the final third, he drove straight towards the box. His most threatening runs started at the top corner of the penalty area. Iceland either had to send extra men to meet him, thus leaving other Super Eagles unmarked, or had to let Moses run at a defender one-on-one.
Moses provided both the speed and strength necessary for the Super Eagles to break down Iceland in the second half. He was the biggest threat to Iceland’s organization, which created space on the left for the even-faster Ahmed Musa. Moses’ consistency on the right was the perfect foil for Musa’s lightning brilliance on the left.
Moses still had plenty of the groan-inducing moments familiar to Chelsea fans. Because Iceland stood off him when he was wide in the final third, he did not hit the first man as often with his passes. But many of his passes came to nothing, as Iceland easily read the ball’s movement. His shot selection was solid, but his execution was poor. Of his three shots, none were on target.
One Moses cross, though, found its mark perfectly. Moses put the ball directly on the foot of the on-rushing Ahmed Musa for an assist on the first goal. His Chelsea “teammate” Kenneth Omeruo assisted on the second goal, sending a long ball over the top along the left flank to Musa.
Omeruo was Nigeria’s player of the game defensively. He shared the lead with Wilfried Ndidi for most defensive actions, and completed five long balls. Omeruo almost negated his excellent day by commiting the foul resulting in Iceland’s penalty kick. However, Gylfi Sigurdsson absolved Omeruo of responsibility and mockery by floating the spot kick well into the stands.
Nigeria’s final game against Argentina is increasingly looking like an epic mismatch. The Super Eagles hit their stride through midfield and in the attack, while Argentina are empty in the midfield and porous in defence. Nigeria defend sharply and quickly pivot turnovers into counter-attacks. Argentina rely on bringing most of their players forward to build offensive chances.
Kenneth Omeruo looks up to the challenge of Lionel Messi. Victor Moses may be surprised at how easily he can take the ball from the right flank to a shooting position 15 yards in front of goal. Moses’ only real uncertainty will be whether he will be looking at Chelsea’s Willy Caballero or either of Argentina’s untested back-up goalkeepers.
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On the balance of the last 40 minutes for Nigeria and 180 minutes for Argentina, Chelsea’s Super Eagles could enjoy a romp over a deflated Argentine side.