AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

Goal records fall as giants flex muscles

6/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
THE DAY REPLAYED - That's entertainment.

After intrigue aplenty in the opening two rounds of matches New Zealand 2015, the fireworks came out on Day 3. Goals, and a record number of them, were its defining feature, with 28 - 12 more than on the first two matchdays combined - flying in at both Christchurch and New Plymouth.

Amid the high scorers there were also some big winners, with Brazil taking a crucial foothold in Group E after edging a wonderful game in which Nigeria also contributed hugely. Both must now look to catch section leaders Hungary, though, whose hat-trick hero Bence Mervo inspired an impressive 5-1 demolition of Korea DPR. 


Germany were even more handsome winners, racking up eight goals to give Fiji the toughest of baptisms in their first match at a FIFA tournament. And Honduras were also left celebrating after emerging triumphant by the odd goal in seven in the tightest encounter of an unforgettable day.

Results
Group E
Nigeria 2-4 Brazil
Korea DPR 1-5 Hungary


Group F
Germany 8-1 Fiji
Uzbekistan 3-4 Honduras


Goal of the day
Nigeria 1-1 Brazil, Success Isaac (10)
Such was the quality of the strikes on show in New Plymouth's opening match that four of the six would have been worthy contenders. Yet Success Isaac's conversion - coolly rounding the keeper and slotting past despairing covering defenders - was not what made Nigeria's equaliser so special. Rather, it was the audacious assist provided by Musa Yahaya, who split the Brazil rearguard asunder with a first-time 'rabona' pass that brought Taranaki Stadium to its feet.

Memorable moments
Winning isn't everything
Having ended the day on the receiving end of a drubbing, Fiji's squad might have been expected to form a collection of scowls and long faces. Far from it. From goalkeeper Misiwani Nairube bawling with pride during the anthems to Iosefu Verevou wildly celebrating his consolation goal, there was only pride and joy on show. Fiji, even in defeat, had made history. As coach Frank Farina said: "This game, that goal, meant so much for the country."

Set-piece specialists
As the scoreline and evenly balanced match stats suggest, there was very little to separate Honduras and Uzbekistan in Christchurch's later game. What proved decisive was the Central Americans' dead-ball prowess, with two of their players competing for the honour of scoring the game's best free-kick. Captain Jhow Benavidez led by example with a textbook curling effort in the first half, sent over the wall and in at the top-left corner. But Kevin Alvarez's powerful second-half effort - from closer in, but bent around the wall and into the opposite corner - was just as impressive. Future opponents should be wary of conceding anything within shooting distance.

Facing the music
As anyone watching will testify, today's matches were played against the musical backdrop of two very distinct sounds. In New Plymouth, it was a brass band that entertained the crowds with a few old-fashioned favourites, while the sound of Fijian beats accompanied the first of Christchurch's games. The drummer in question was 21-year-old Ashish Kumar, who told FIFA.com: "It's one of the most amazing experiences of my life to see Fiji play a World Cup. I just give them all my support I can."

Hungary's hat-trick club
It is unlikely that Hungary's Bence Mervo woke up this morning expecting to score a hat-trick in his World Cup debut. But having achieved that surprise feat, he will be doubly shocked to learn the elite club he has now joined. While none of his countrymen have previously scored a treble in a U-20 finals, three have managed the feat at the senior event. And by shining today Mervo now finds himself in the company of Laszlo Kiss - the first substitute to score a World Cup hat-trick - and national icons Florian Albert and Sandor Kocis.

The stat
28
- The remarkable number of goals, an average of seven per match, that were served up today. This set a new U-20 World Cup record for a single matchday, surpassing even the figures registered when eight games would be played at this tournament in a single day. Germany did most to set this new benchmark by registering their biggest-ever win at the U-20 finals.

The words
"My mind was off. The ball was wet and I just couldn't get my grip properly. I must do better."
Nigeria goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo on his crucial mistake against Brazil.

Next matchday
Tuesday 2 June 2015 (all times local)

Group A (Whangarei & Auckland)
Myanmar-Ukraine, 13.00
New Zealand-USA, 19.00


Group B (Wellington)
Austria-Panama 16.00
Argentina-Ghana 19.00 


By: FIFA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network