The
Germans scored in the 9th minute through Lukas Klostermann and
pressured from then on as the Nigerian defensive line looked shaky and
lacked some solidity, if not for the hard work of Troost Ekong at the
backline, the African champions would have conceded more goals...
At half
time, Germany led Nigeria 1-0 but Nigeria created a few chances in the
final 10 minutes to give their opponents something to think about at
the break.
The second half started with Samson
Siasia not making any change and the team showed some liveliness and
more tactical awareness after the break. But after some indecisive play
by Nigeria's front line through out the second half, they were made to
pay for their blushes by Nils Petersen in the 89th minute after a
stunning counter attack that left only Troost Ekong as the defensive
cover for Nigeria's goalkeeper.
Nigeria's players looked
distraught at the final whistle but will have some consolation in the
fact that they will play Honduras in the third place match for a Bronze
medal.
They didn’t have it all their own way but eventually
Germany saw off Nigeria and will play Brazil at the Maracanã in a
mouth-watering gold medal match two years on from that famous 7-1
thrashing in the 2014 World Cup.
Congratulations to our Nigerian players, they tried to get this far!