Nigeria draws Honduras 3-3
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from September 2000.
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In the other group on the opening day of action at the Sydney Games, Cameroon edged Kuwait 3-2 and the United States and Czech Republic shared a 2-2 draw.
In women's action, Brazil downed Sweden 2-0 and Germany scored a 3-0 victory over Australia to make it a miserable night for the host nation. At Adelaide's Hindmarsh stadium, David Suazo scored twice including a penalty and Julio Leon added another as Honduras led 3-1 with 14 minutes to go. But Nigeria, forced to play without 1996 hero Nwankwo Kanu who has preferred to stay with his club Arsenal, rallied on goals by Victor Agali in the 78th and Yakubu Ayegbeni in the final minute.
Many expected the Super Eagles to easily handle Honduras before facing the more highly regarded Australia and Italy, and a mere point leaves Jo Bonfrere's team in a weakened position.
The only goal at the Melbourne Cricket Ground came nine minutes from the end of a well-balanced game before 93,252 fans, the vast majority supporting the Aussies.
Olyroos defender Hayden Foxe gave the ball away in his own half and it was quickly fed to Andrea Pirlo in front of goal with only keeper Danny Milosevic to beat. His weakly struck shot hit the inside of the post and just made it over the line before Foxe tried to make up for his blunder by clearing the ball off the line. The Australians thought they had got away with it and it was several seconds before Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast awarded the goal which put the Italians atop Group A.
In the next games on Saturday, Italy faces Honduras at Adelaide with a victory guaranteeing a quarterfinal berth for the Europeans, and the Aussies and Nigerians meet at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Cameroon survived a late scare when Jamal Abdulrahman pulled Kuwait within 3-2 with three minutes to go. But the Indomitable Lions left with three points thanks to goals by Nicolas Alnoudji, Patrick Mboma and Arsenal's Lauren Mayer, who added the third in the 85th minute.
