Dream Team Hopes Fade Away After Loss To Denmark

Denmark U23 completely destroyed their Nigerian counterparts 6-2 in the ongoing Suwon Invitational Challenge at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on Saturday.

The early dominance of the Danish side was rewarded when Erhun Obanor was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box as early as seven minutes.

Goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel saved the resultant spot kick taken by Nicolai Brock-Madsen.

The wasteful Taiwo Awoniyi had Nigeria’s first clear cut chance but his header went over the bar.

He was the culprit once again when he missed another chance from close range.

Denmark were in front thanks to an own goal from Obanor who tried to clear a cross in the 26th minute.

Three minutes later, Sincere Seth tried to set up Awoniyi. The striker couldn’t connect, leaving the goalkeeper to make a simple save.

Emil Larsen doubled the advantage for the Danes with eleven minutes left in the first stanza.

In the 38th minute, Larsen completed a brace for himself. The first half ended 3-0 in favour of the European side.

In a bid to beef up his faltering team, Samson Siaisia threw two-goal hero Taiwo Abdulrahman, Godwin Saviour and Stanley Amuzie into the fray.

The trio of Ndifreke Effiong, Stanley Dimgba and Nathan Oduwa made way for them.

Six minutes into the second half, Awoniyi had the chance to reduce the deficit for Nigeria. As usual the young lad failed to get his execution right.

Larsen showed Awoniyi how to score when he completed a treble for himself in the 54th minute.

Awoniyi would then see his effort crash off the cross bar in the 65th minute.

Things continued to fall apart for the lifeless Dream Team XI and Patrick Da Silva made it 5-0. It was 6-0 courtesy of Emiliano Marcondes’ effort.

With five minutes left on the clock, the hardworking Abdulrahman scored his first international goal for Nigeria.

The Kwara United striker netted another face saving goal in the 88th minute of action. He went close to netting hattrick for himself at injury time.

At the end of the game, it was another loss to the Nigerian side in the Suwon Invitational Challenge.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : thenff.com