Nigeria ousted Belgium out with four dazzling goals, clearing their way right to the men's soccer final at the Beijing Olympics here on Tuesday.
The Flying Eagles dominated the match from the beginning to the end with better organization and accurate passes. By their superior ball-control skills and flamboyant break of their opponent's defense line, Wingers Peter Odemwingie from Russia's Moscow Lokomotiv and Solomon Okoronkwo from German Berlin Hertha poised several serious challenges to the goal, and finally harvested one at 17 minute as defender Olubayo Adefemi sent the ball into the net after a corner kick.
The Belgians, apparently dragged by the accumulated fatigue, could only take some counter-attacks to offense and produced several chances to even the score. The closest one came from midfielder Faris Haroun whose powerful shot hit the crossbar at 54 minute.
The Games was literally ended when the midfielder Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke charged out of nowhere with a clean finish and then stunned the goalkeeper again with a powerful 35-meter long shot to rewrite the scoreboard with 3-0.
The last 15 minutes became Nigerian's solo show as defender Chibuzor Okonkwo, amid thundering roars of the spectators, scored another long shot, not mentioning the substituted forward Victor Anichebe squandered two clear chances.
The Belgium was only rewarded a consolation goal as defender Laurent Ciman scored by a beautiful free kick at 88 minute.
(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2008)