Sweden 2 Nigeria 1
Nigeria became the first casualty of the World Cup's 'Group of Death' in Kobe today when they lost 2-1 to Sweden.
Two goals from Henrik Larsson cancelled out Julius Aghahowa's 27th-minute header and the Swedes managed to survive enormous Nigerian pressure in the last quarter of an hour.
The result leaves Nigeria pointless from two games and lifts the Swedes to the top of the group with four points ahead of Argentina and England, who meet later on today in an eagerly awaited clash in Sapporo.
The Nigerians had been unlucky not to equalise - John Utaka had a shot cleared off the line with seven minutes remaining in the match and Joseph Yobo hit the post with a 25-yard drive just afterwards.
Aghahowa became the leading candidate for celebration of the tournament after greeting his glancing header past Swedish goalkeeper Magnus Hedman with a spectacular mutliple backflip that delighted the crowd.
But Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg combined to equalise seven minutes later.
A perfectly-timed pass split the Nigerian defence and Larsson cut inside to plant the ball past keeper Ike Shorunmu.
Sweden took the lead in the 62nd minute when Larsson earned a penalty when he was tripped by Ifeanyi Udeze.
The Bolivian referee Rene Ortube immediately pointed to the spot and Larsson converted the penalty himself, although Shorunmu got a hand to the ball.
Nigeria brought on Nwankwo Kanu in a bid to draw level but Sweden wasted a chance to tie up the match when Anders Svensson drove his shot straight at the keeper from a good position.
Veteran Nigerian defender Taribo West, who had returned to the action wearing a bandage after five minutes of treatment to a head wound, sent a header narrowly wide from a Jay Jay Okocha cross.
And Larsson then wasted a chance of a hat-trick by losing the ball in the Nigerian area.
Still Nigeria pushed, Okocha blasting wide with 15 minutes left but it was not to be for the two-time African champions.
They had almost taken a half-time lead with five minutes of the first half remaining.
The in-form Jay Jay Okocha dribbled round almost the entire Swedish defence and his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Teddy Lucic, but the ball rebounded off his team-mate Johan Mjallby and hit the post.
Aghahowa was a constant threat to the Swedish rearguard with his pace and strength, proving he has a bright future.
Sweden's best first-half period came after 20 minutes when Ljungberg's dribble took him past three defenders, forcing a corner from which Mjallby's header was cleared off the line by Justice Christopher.
The Nigerians, defeated 1-0 by Argentina in their opener, were in trouble in the opening quarter of an hour when Larsson broke and squared the ball to Allback whose poor shot was deflected for a corner and before the Nigerians regrouped, Olof Mellberg blasted just over the crossbar.
Nigeria face England next Wednesday in their final match.
AFP