Nigeria (3) v (2) Norway

NIGERIA came from behind to win their second match of the day at Melbourne pitch, beating Norway 3-2.

In one of the games of the tournament so far, the Nigerians fell two goals behind before half time, then held off a Norwegian barrage in the dying minutes as they clung to a 3-2 lead.

The goalkeepers kept both sides in the game, with Helge Sjolyst a titan for Norway and Nigeria's keeper making several acrobatic saves.

Oddvar Anderson held off two Nigerian defenders and slotted the game's opening goal from the edge of the penalty area early on.

Anderson could have had a second moments later as he pounced on a loose ball, but slid his shot wide into the hoardings.

A chance out of nothing doubled Norway's lead, with Arild Haland somehow creating an angle to beat the keeper from the right wing.

Nigeria pressed and were unlucky not to score their opener – denied by Sjolyst, who saved magnificently with his feet.

There was no stopping Nigeria's next attack, however – a rifled shot from inside their own half giving Sjolyst no chance.

Trailing 2-1 at the break, the Nigerians needed no time to gather themselves in the second half. Just 25 seconds elapsed before they found the equaliser, and a first-time strike from the left could have given them the lead, if not for another exceptional parry by Sjolyst.

Nigeria's two-pronged forward line was causing havoc, and a fast break soon put them in front.

The turnaround must have demoralised Norway, but they didn't show it – seizing the momentum and unleashing a series of hammer strikes in the final minutes.

Anderson rattled the hoardings beside the goal with a rare header, and then hit the bar with a fierce shot from mid-range.

Nigeria thought they had a fourth goal when they bundled the ball over the line, but play had been stopped to allow Norway's skipper to leave the ground for treatment.

Fiery Norwegian forward Ivan Tobiassen had a difficult chance to send the game into a penalty shoot-out, but fired his shot against the boards.

By Matthew Price

Photos: Photoworx