Nigeria scored with one of their few chances in the game to defeat South Africa 1-0 in their 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Bafana Bafana created plenty of opportunities in the match, but a mixture of poor finishing, last-ditch defending and good goalkeeping kept them at bay
Nigeria had few chances in the game, but Ikechukwu Uche made his count when he twisted the defence and his low shot on 71 minutes crept past Itumeleng Khune in the home goal.
Fulltime Score: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1
Blow-by-blow coverage:
1 mins: And we're off!
5 mins: It is easy to see early on that the wind and bumpy pitch are making life difficult for the players. Perhaps they will get used to it as the game goes on. Free-kick chance for Bafana is floated by Modise straight at the Nigerian goalkeeper.
10 mins: First real chance falls to Bafana as Nkosi gets a clear sight of goal, but his effort is blocked. He tries to shoot again on the second attempt, but scuffs his shot across goal. Bafana have settled well. Modise puts a free-kick from 30-yards just wide of the post.
15 mins: Yakubu has a snap-shot from the edge of the area that goes high over the bar. First chance for the Super Eagles. Dikgacoi fires just wide from the edge of the area after a good run from McCarthy.
20 mins: Nigeria are seeing more of the ball, but the game has settled down a bit of a frantic beginning.
25 mins: Modise shoots wide from 35-yards when he had better options out wide on the right. Selfish play from the midfielder. Brilliant tackle from Mabizela on Yakubu and the Nigerian striker bustled forward. Kalu Uche creates a half-chance for Nigeria, but Khune gathers.
30 mins: Ikechukwu Uche is put clean through for Nigeria, but he shoots high and wide with just Khune to beat. The best chance of the game so far and he should have done better. His brother, Kalu Uche, later shoots straight at Khune from the edge of the area. Nigeria are starting to get their link-up play going. Dikgacoi has a shot from 30-yards that Aiyenugba saves.
35 mins: Carnell crosses, Aiyenugba comes for it under pressure from McCarthy, doesn't gather and the ball goes for a corner. The set-piece is wasted after that. Good play from Bafana, spreading the ball across the path. Dikgacoi and Sibaya have efforts on goal that come to naught.
40 mins: Nkosi tees up McCarthy, but the strikers shot is straight at the keeper. Great skill from Tshabalala in the left has the beating of Odiah, but his end product is poor and Nigeria clear.
HALFTIME: Modise wins a free-kick on the right-hand side of the penalty area, which Carnell takes. His floated ball eventually ends up at the feet of Nkosi, but his shot his high and wide. Bafana get a last chance before halftime with a free-kick just on the edge of the area, but Modise shoots high and wide.
46 mins: Second half gets underway!
50 mins: Bafana start the second half the brighter. They need a goal from somewhere to keep their Nations Cup hopes alive.
55 mins: Tshabalala has an excellent chance at the back post as he arrives on a cross, but he scuffs his shot when a better connection would surely have seem him score. Best chance of the game for Bafana.
60 mins: Great flowing move from Bafana sees Mccarthy cross for Nkosi, but his shot is straight at the keeper. YELLOW CARD for Ikechukwu Uche. Nkosi is within a whisker of giving Bafana the lead, but shoots just wide.
65 mins: Bafana are buzzing now and Nigeria need to find an answer. So far they are being over-run in midfield. Yakubu turns Mabizela and shoots, but straight at Khune. Dikgacoi shoots just wide from 30-yards. YELLOW CARD for Carnell. Bafana are raining shots on the Nigerian goal, but somehow the ball is not finding the net.
70 mins: Tshabalala has a free-kick go high and wide. Nkosi beats the offside trap, but his touch is poor and the keeper can collect. SUB for Nigeria as Obodu replaces Kalu Uche.
71 mins: GOAL! Nigeria score against the run of play! Ikechukwu Uche twists and turns and beats Khune with a shot from the edge of the area that the goalkeeper seemed to struggle to pick up.
75 mins: Bafana need to find two goals in the last 15 minutes …
80 mins: Nkosi has an excellent chance for Bafana, but with just Aiyenugba to beat, he thumps the ball into the keeper midriff. Double SUB for Bafana as Moriri and Zuma come on, Sibaya and Tshabalala off.
85 mins: Aiyenugba comes for a corner and completely misses, but McCarthy can't take advantage at the back post.
FULLTIME: Bafana press, press, press, but Nigeria hold firm. Zuma shoots over when he should have shown more composure. It has been a case of plenty of chances for them today, but they just couldn't put them away. Credit Nigeria, they defended well and hit Bafana with a sucker-punch on the break.
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