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The Flying Eagles of Nigeria are favorites over the Red Devils of Korea in the 4th quarterfinal match coming up on Sunday at the Estadio Unico Madre De Ciudedes of Santiago at 2200 hours Nigerian time.
Using current factors in football to examine the pending encounter, and the new angle of Precision Journalism, Nigeria may tear Korea into shreds before the 75th minute.
Shall we start with match achievements before looking at a vital pillar of football measurement called Statistics. South Korea was beaten by France 2-1; played 2-2 with Honduras and goalless with Gambia. South Korea spanked China 3-0 and lost to Uzbekistan 0-1 all at the group games. At the round of 16, Korea beat Ecuador 3-2. That means Korea played 4 games in this tournament, won 2, and drew 2 scoring 7 goals and conceding 5 having +2 goals difference.
Nigeria beat Dominic Republic 2-1; shocked Italy 2-0 and bowed to the jinx of Brazil 0-2. Nigeria humbled hosts Argentina 2-0 in the round of 16. Nigeria played 4 games, won 3 and lost 1 scoring 6 goals and conceding 3 having +3 goals difference.
.That means the Nigerian defence is tighter than that of Korea in terms of goals conceded and the Nigerian attack needs to upgrade with marksmanship at scoring goals.
Still on current form, statistically Nigeria should have an edge as the African country made total 66-42 shots at goal with a 27-21 on target meaning that if Nigerian players who love making attempts at goal can be more clinical with their shots and we could end the match early. This is very important in football as goals make the difference in football.
Dominance of a game is close between both sides. Total average ball possession is 200-198% in favor of Nigeria and stringed passes were 385-383 still in favor of Nigeria when you base it on four games played each. Dominance dictates the movement of the ball in a game and how to move it into the net. So Korea has to be careful.
The Koreans are not a disciplined side at all. They are so aggressive with 52-40 foul calls when many Nigerians were saying Nigerian players are too physical but now records show that Nigeria is not near Korea in aggression. So Korea was lucky to have 5 yellow cards throughout and Nigeria has 4 but Korea had a red card in the second group game as the player returned for the Round of 16 games. This means Nigerian players will need to play more of the ‘ticky taka’ or one touch pass to avoid hacking and stamping. Perhaps aerial or long passes could send the Koreas into confusion and anger which will attract sanctions in yellow or red card. With the style of play of Victor Eletu of AC Milan and Ibrahim upfront, a straight red may come up and if early will become the achilles heel of Korea.
Both sides had 5 offside calls each but the 31-15 corner kicks in favor of Nigeria further shows Korea may buckle with unforced errors landing own goals in an attempt to curb rampaging Nigerian attackers. The least corner kicks of 5 that Nigeria had against Argentina is what Korea earned in their last group game and against Ecuador.
The conclusion is that on current form in this tournament, Nigeria is way ahead of Korea and should by dint of hard work fly gleefully into the Semifinals for the 3rd time.
There are four times both teams met. On 15th June 2005 at Netherlands, Nigeria slumped 1-2 to Korea in the second match of their group games. Abwo scored the only goal for Nigeria in the 18th minute while Park ChunYong scored the equalizer in the 89th minute and Baek Ji-hoon scored the winner in 90+2 minutes but Nigeria went to play in the final losing to Argentina with Messi scoring two goals.
There was this friendly of 5th June 2011 that Nigeria won 1-0. In 2013 at the Turkey world cup, Kayode Olanrewaju scored the only goal that made the difference in the 9th minute of a 3rd Group B match played on 27th June 2013. Again in a group E encounter played 4th June 2015 Nigeria walloped Korea 4-0. Saviour scored a brace 48th and 51st minutes; Sokari scored 71st minute and Success put the icing on the cake with 80th minute goal.
The Red Devils of South Korea are in their 15th appearance with their best performance at the Poland games in 2019 when Ukraine defeated the Asian champions 3-1 in the final after the Red Devils had won a slim 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the semifinals. South Korea placed 4th in 1983 at Mexico losing the Bronze to Poland 1-2 AET after losing in the semifinals to Brazil 1-2. There were three appearances in the quarterfinal in 1991; 2009 and 2013.
Nigeria in their 13th Appearance has a long story being Runners-up at the World level twice in 1989 when Nigeria beat USA 2-1 in the Semis with Head Master, Mutiu Adepoju scoring the two goals in the 47th and 93rd minutes and Snow scored for America via penalty in the 52nd minute. Nigeria lost 0-2 to Portugal in the final. The second time Nigeria emerged Runners-up was in 2005 when the Flying Eagles trashed Morocco 3-0 in the semis. The finals were more memorable with Nigeria bowing to Argentina as football wizard, Leo Messi messed Nigeria up scoring two penalties 40th and 75th minute while Ogbuke scored for Nigeria in the 53rd minute. Messi, Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo dominated the awards at the tournament.
Nigeria has more confidence now based on the teams they have met, beating Italy and Argentina who are favorites to lift the trophy but lost to Brazil who may still come their way. Korea only played two top rated teams in France defeated 2-1 and Ecuador that was beaten 3-2. When you stand up to the giants, the Lilliputians should be careful of being crushed.
Nigeria may meet winner of Columbia versus Italy in the semifinals on Thursday 8th June at La Plata at 2200 hours.. Nigeria will with more confidence pray to meet Italy again. The round leather slam of 2-0 victory was disturbing to the Italian coach who complained that Nigerians were too strong, fast and calculative not allowing his team to play their game.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
The Author, Eniola Olatunji has been in the media for some 46 years with vast experience in Radio Sports Commentaries and Newspaper reporting. He worked as Presenter/Producer on many radio stations and Reporter/Editor in some Newspapers,
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