Ahmed Musa struck both goals as Nigeria boosted its World Cup qualification hopes with a 2-0 defeat of Iceland, a result that is also good news for Argentina.
Lionel Messi's team was pushed to the brink of an early exit after a stunning 3-0 loss to Croatia on Thursday, but victory in its final Group D game against Nigeria could now send Argentina through to the last 16.
Musa was left out of Nigeria's loss to Croatia, but he justified his recall to the side with the opening goal shortly after halftime at the Volgograd Arena on Friday.
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The forward controlled a cross from Victor Moses and thumped an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net, with Musa becoming the Super Eagles' top scorer in the history of the tournament courtesy of his third World Cup goal.
MUSAAAAA!!!! with a brilliant finish for the Super Eagles. Nigeria 1-0 Iceland #SoarSuperEagles #NGA #Team9jaStrong #NGAISL pic.twitter.com/q6gA4GGqYF
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) June 22, 2018
Nigeria was poor in the first half — failing to record a single shot — but was much improved after the break, Musa adding another to his personal tally in the 75th minute as Iceland's rock-like resilience crumbled.
After Gylfi Sigurdsson missed a late penalty, Heimir Hallgrimsson's side could be heading home from its first World Cup unless it beats already qualified Croatia, and Argentina fails to take three points against Nigeria, although goal difference could come into play.
2- Ahmed Musa now has four World Cup goals for Nigeria, at least twice as many as any other player in their history. Super. #NGA #ISL #NGAISL pic.twitter.com/H4hZiBWJzX
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 22, 2018
Key Opta stats:
— All six of Nigeria’s World Cup wins have come against European opposition, with five clean sheets in those victories.
— This was Iceland’s first defeat in a group stage match at a major international tournament, having previously drawn three and won one of its four games.
— Ahmed Musa has scored each of Nigeria’s last four goals at the World Cup, having also bagged a brace in a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in 2014.
— Gylfi Sigurdsson fired in two shots on target in the first six minutes of this match, as many as his side managed in total in 90 minutes against Argentina.
— This was only Nigeria’s second win in their last 14 matches at the World Cup (D3 L9), having also beating Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014.