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[Awards Review]
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▶ Argentina Start Group of Death with 1-0 Win over Nigeria
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[2002/06/03 ]
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Kashima, Japan, June 2 (Kyodo-Yonhap) -- World Cup favorites Argentina kicked off their campaign in group F with a well-deserved 1-0 win over Nigeria at Kashima Stadium on Sunday.
The two-time champions dominated the match from start to finish but had to wait until AS Roma striker Gabriel Batistuta headed home in the 63rd minute to seal all three points.
'I was concerned about the number of lost opportunities we had in the match. What we need to do as a team is to minimize our opponents' opportunities and create more for ourselves,' Argentina coach Marcelo Biesla said.
'If it had been a bigger victory, it would been justified and we would feel more comfortable. But we are satisfied and our team is very strong, and we have passed the first significant test,' he said.
Argentina went on the offensive from the outset and created plenty of opportunities while Nigeria were content to soak up the pressure and try and catch the South Americans on the break.
Batistuta, given the striker's spot ahead of Hernan Crespo, twice went close in the space of two minutes midway through the first period, but saw his efforts thwarted by Nigeria goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu.
The Swiss-based keeper was again called into action on the half hour and was at full stretch to tip over a ferocious effort from Ariel Ortega.
Nigeria's only real scoring chance came two minutes later when captain Jay Jay Okocha forced Pablo Cavallero into a fine save with a 20-meter drive.
The Africans suffered a blow just after the interval when they lost star striker Nwankwo Kanu, who had taken a knock early on, and were under the cosh for the remainder of the game.
Argentina continued to press forward and finally made the breakthrough when Batistuta rose to meet Juan Sebastian Veron's corner at the far post to take his record to 56 goals in 76 internationals.
Despite the defeat, Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde said he was pleased with the overall performance of his players and is confident Nigeria will bounce back.
'I would have loved to have won the match but we have lost and that was unfortunate. But talking about the standard of our game, I am very much impressed,' said Onigbinde.
'I am happy with my boys and I see this result as a challenge -- the reason to intensify our preparation for the remaining two matches to stay in the competition,' he said.
England take on Sweden in the other group F match at Saitama Stadium 2002 later Sunday.
- Scorers
Argentina - Gabriel Batistuta, 63
Nigeria- None
- Halftime: 0-0
- Red Cards: None
- Attendance: 34,050
- Teams:
Argentina - 12-Pablo Cavallero, 13-Diego Placente, 4-Mauriciob Pochettino, 6-Walter Samuel, 3-Juan Pablo Sorin, 8-Javier Zanetti, 10-Ariel Ortega, 11-Juan Sebastian Veron (16-Pablo Aimar 78), 14-Diego Simeone, 7-Claudio Lopez (18-Kily Gonzalez 46), 9-Gabriel Batistuta (19-Hernan Crespo 81)
Nigeria - 1-Ike Shorunmu, 3-Celestine Babayaro, 5-Isaac Okoronkwo, 6-Taribo West, 16-Efe Sodje (15-Christopher Justice 73), 2-Joseph Yobo, 10-Jay Jay Okocha, 11-Garba Lawal, 4-Nwankwo Kanu (7-Pius Ikedia 48), 9-Bartholomew Ogbeche, 17-Julius Aghahowa
- Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)
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