Nigeria v Denmark
Nigeria (4) v (6) Denmark
This one had everything: The tournament favourites against the local heroes, a packed house at Town Hall Square; TV cameras surrounding the pitch; and a match packed full with incident and controversy. A furious Nigerian bench ran from the dug out at the final whistle to challenge the Austrian referee over two crucial Blue Card decisions. It wasn't pretty, but it showed just how passionately the teams are taking the tournament as the top teams battle to get their hands on the Homeless World Cup itself.
The Africans had been highly fancied as the game approached, but the glorious atmosphere on Pitch 1 is worth an extra man to the Danes - and they have one of the star strikers to help out too. Team captain Bell is the goal machine that underpins this Danish side and his sustained run of fine form has put wind in the sails of the Viking ship.Nigeria opened the scoring though, their No.11 hitting the net before Bell got in on the act with a converted penalty and then secured the lead with a great finish into the bottom corner. Both keepers played their part too, a string of wonderful saves reminding the crowd how vital talent between the posts has proved in this HWC. Then started the controversy as the first Blue Card was waved at the stylish Nigerian No.10 Simon Okwori. Nigeria though did not wilt in the face of a one man advantage, the energetic No.11 doing the work of two men to set up his team mate to equalise.
That was the end of the resistance though as Denmark grabbed two goals before half-time to ensure they had a raucous crowd to roar them through the break. There was more to come in the second half, the Danes scoring twice more in reply to Nigeria's lone reply and having keeper Nielsen to thank for some more spectacular saves - one standout example was tipped over at full stretch and flew over the grandstand.
With less than two minutes to go came the final blow for the Africans. Another Blue Card left them a man down for the rest of the game and it was too high a mountain to climb for two players facing a side constantly urged on to greater heights by an adoring crowd. The love-in didn't extend to the Nigeria coach and the Ref of course, but not even the blistering anger on show could stop the Danish side milking the applause for all they were worth.
Joel Dimmock