U20WC: Brazil eat Flying Eagles yum-yum in La Plata

Not even the presence of Yum-Yum FC star Daniel Bameyi at the heart of the defence could prevent Nigeria’s Flying Eagles from being eaten up by Brazil in their Group D game on Saturday in La Plata.

The Flying Eagles went into the game as group leaders but the 0-2 loss to the Junior Sambas of Brazil means that they finish the group in third place but will go through to the next round as one of the best losers.

Ladan Bosso’s Flying Eagles indeed started the brighter of both sides at the Estadio Unico Diego Armando Maradona in La Plata and were indeed very unlucky not to have gone in front in the 8th minute. Jude Sunday’s well-executed volley cannoned off the underside of the cross bar and back into play without sufficiently crossing the goal line.

Nigeria, finalists in 2005, continued to pour forward in torrents but also left gaps behind which the Brazilians sought to exploit at every opportunity until the Flying Eagles capitulated late in the first half.

Brazil took the lead in the 43rd minute when Jean beat Yum-Yum FC’s Bameyi at the first post to head home Marquinhos’ corner kick. Marquinhos, on the books of Arsenal in England then doubled Brazil’s lead in the second minute of first half stoppage time when he finished off a swift counter attack.

Nigerian coach Bosso rang the changes starting from the hour mark and one of his substitutes Haliru Sarki went close to scoring late in the game but his ferocious effort from 25 yards was denied by the cross bar.

Brazil held on for their win, finishing top of Group D with six points while Italy who beat Dominican Republic 3-0 finished second with superior goals difference over Nigeria.

Nigeria will have to wait till the end of the group stage games on Sunday before knowing their precise opponents in the second round which stands between Argentina and the United States of America as at Saturday night.