Ecuador 1 Nigeria 0 : Super Eagles beaten by an early goal scored by Villarreal star

The Super Eagles in the early hours of Friday morning Nigerian time lost 1-0 to Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena, New Jersey, USA in the second of their two-game friendlies to 2022 FIFA World Cup bound opponents.

The team were gunning for their first win in five months and the first under head coach Jose Peseiro after the 2-1 defeat to Mexico in Dallas on Sunday.

Ecuador scored the only goal of the game in the 3rd minute through Villarreal's Pervis Estupinan who evaded his marker Chidozie Awaziem to head home from a free kick.

Shortly after the goal, the Eagles' sloppy defending almost cost them as a long ball into the Nigerians' half was chased down by Estupinan but Awaziem redeemed himself in that situation as he outmuscled the Ecuadorian to pass back to goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

The three-time African champions afterwards had a penalty call overlooked by referee Ricardo Araya who ruled that Terem Moffi was not significantly felled by his marker.

Francis Uzoho produced an elastic save when he pushed the ball away for a corner in the 21st minute, ten minutes after he was almost beaten by a lobbed effort by Angel Mena.

Alex Iwobi picked out Cyreil Dessers with a delightful pass in the 28th minute but the Genk striker fired straight at goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez who parried the ball out of danger.

Emmanuel Dennis who came off the bench in place of Sani Faisal missed a gilt-edged chance in the 58th minute after a good cross into the opposition box by Calvin Bassey.

Joe Aribo was close to restoring parity when he let fly a shot from 25 yards four minutes later but his effort was saved by Alexander Dominguez.

William Troost-Ekong made a vital block that denied the Ecuadorians a possible second goal eight minutes from time.

Izuchukwu Michael
    

Photo Credit : fef.ec

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