USA 2 Nigeria 0 : Soto Brace Helps The Stars and Stripes Beat Disappointing Flying Eagles

Nigeria fell to a 2-0 defeat against the United States of America in their second Group D game of the 2019 U-20 World Cup at the Bielsko-Biała Stadium on Monday evening.

Paul Aigbogun made just one change from the starting XI that trounced Qatar last time out, with Jerome Akor replacing Tijani Muhammad upfront.

It was the Yanks that showed the most initiative into the game and it paid off when Sebastian Soto headed home off an Alexis Mendez corner with barely eighteen minutes played.

And after skipper Ikouwem Utin saw his header saved by USA goalie Scott in the first period, Soto yet again punished a hesitant Nigerian backline just after the break to put his side 2-0 up.

Aigbogun's changes could do little to inspire his charges and in truth, the boys toiled through out the game and will now have to get a favourable result versus Ukraine in their last group game if they must progress to the next round.

Nigeria Starting XI (4-4-2) : Orewale Oremade; Mohammed Zulkifilu, Aliu Salawudeen, Valentine Ozornwafor, Ikouwem Utin; Jamil Muhammad, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Maxwell Effiom, Kingsley Michael; Jerome Akor, Henry Offia

Emmanuel Chinaza