By Lisa Flueckiger, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the second match of Group B, Uruguay kept their chances at qualifying for the semi-finals, beating Nigeria 2-1. The game in Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova was a leveled affair, with chances on both sides.
Man of the match was Uruguay’s Diego Forlán, who played his hundredth game for the national team and crowned his appearance with a spectacular goal in the second half-time.
“I arrive at 100 goals with a lot of pride. And then even with a goal. It was a very beautiful game,” Forlán told O Globo about his feat.
The match started with advantages for the Uruguayans, as they pressed towards their opponent’s goal. It took them only nineteen minutes until Diego Lugano scored. The decisive pass came from Forlán, Edison Cavani missed the ball in front of the goal, but Lugano behind him just had to slide it in.
The Nigerian side, which brought a young team to Brazil, with only five players over the age of 25, made up for its disadvantage by starting to push for the equalizer. It came after 37 minutes, as playmaker John Obi Mikel put the ball behind Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
The second half-time continued in a very balanced manner, showing the will of both teams to take the victory home.
However, it was Forlán who completed his great appearance with a beautiful strike, after a pass from Edison Cavani to make for Uruguay’s 2-1 lead.
The match was at 2-1 until the end in Salvador, as Cavani missed his chance to strike only minutes before the end. Both teams now have three points, whereas Spain lead their group with six points.
Although Spain is in a comfortable position to reach the Confederations Cup semi-finals, this means technically no team has qualified for it.
The next Group B games will take place on Sunday at 4PM and will pit Uruguay against Tahiti and Spain against Nigeria.
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