Norway after edging past the Flying Eagles, joined Colombia at the top of the group
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 loss to Norway at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, Chile on Monday evening.
The two-time silver medallists largely dominated the encounter but failed to convert their chances.
Despite their dominance, it was Norway who opened the scoring in the 9th minute after a video review spotted a handball in the Nigerian box.
Rasmus Holten stepped forward and calmly put the spot kick away.
Prior to that, the Flying Eagles stunned Norway inside three minutes when Kparobo Arierhi rattled the crossbar with a fierce strike.
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Norway, buoyed by the early lead, nearly doubled their advantage when Luca Hoyland danced through midfield with a slaloming run and teed up Gustav Nyheim, who somehow failed to steer home from close range.
Arierhi went close once again just after half-time, dragging his left-footed effort wide with the goalkeeper beaten.
In the 63rd minute, Tahir Maigana’s shot inside the box struck the base of the upright, leaving the striker holding his head in disbelief.
Norway, for most part of the match, were contented with sitting deep with numbers behind the ball, and frustrating Nigeria’s rhythm and soaking up the pressure.
The Flying Eagles had other opportunities to level the score but were left to rue a catalogue of near misses at the end of the match.
Nigeria will look to bounce back when they face Saudi Arabia in their second group match on Thursday, as Norway joined Colombia at the top of Group F.
