Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 as Musa strikes twice; Over to you, Messi and Co.

Nigeria's win has kicked open the Group D with Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland all among the hopefuls to win the one spot left for the round of 16, along with Croatia.

Ahmed Musa's phone will be buzzing all night after his two exquisites earned his team a 2-0 win over Iceland at the Volgograd Arena. It's unlikely, but one of the innumerable messages might be from the Argentinian players, or even Messi himself since Nigeria's win means the chances of the South Americans advancing to the Round of 16 just got a whole lot better. Although there's still a long road to traverse, a ray of hope at the start of it is a good beginning.

The Nigerians upstaged the Icelanders despite failing to register a single shot on target in the first half which ended scorelessly. Nigeria started in a 3-5-2 while Iceland returned to their classic 4-4-2. In the first few minutes, Iceland attacked and created good chances one of which say Gylfi Sigurddson drawing a save out of Uzoho. However, Nigeria then seized control of the game and possession, which remained so for a long time. That is not to say that they created anything threatening. In fact, it was the Icelanders who, looking to break and opting to cross, had more opportunities to break the deadlock. One of those moments came late in the first half when Iceland earned a free-kick in the Nigerian half. Sigurdsson's curving free-kick found Finnbogasson inside the box who failed to connect with the ball before it rolled out wide of the goal.

The Africans came out a changed team in the second half (pep talk?) and it took them just 14 seconds to do what they couldn't in the entire first half -- register a shot on target. They kept up the tempo and within four minutes, in the 49th minute to be precise, Ahmed Musa pulled off a strikingly kingly strike. The attack started with Nigeria going on a counter. Victor Moses received it on the right near the half-line and ran down the flank before pinging a cross into the box. Musa brought the ball down with a sublime first touch before firing in a half-volley to give his team the lead.

Nigeria kept on persisting and prodding. In the 56th minute, Ndidi took a long-ranger that deflected off an Iceland defender before being palmed slightly over the crossbar. Musa brought his second magic moment in the 74th minute with his solo goal. The Leicester City forward bombed down the right flank, got rid of Kari Arnason and rounded off the goalkeeper before firing in his second goal of the match.

Iceland tried to get back into the game and even got a chance in the 79th minute when Finnbogasson was clipped by Ebuehi at the byline. The referee initially dismissed the penalty appeal, but after consulting the VAR, he pointed to the spot! Sigurdsson took the spot kick but fired it over the cross-bar. Iceland's fans got behind their team in the dying minutes with their popular thunderclaps but the damage had been done. Nigeria saw out the rest of the match without much worry and now have three points and sit behind Croatia in the second spot of the points table.

This result has thrown open possibilities for Nigeria, Argentina, and Iceland. All of these teams can still qualify, although meeting a lot of ifs and buts. But one thing is certain, watching the Nigeria-Iceland match on their hotel TVs, Argentinians must have congratulated each other and thanked Nigeria before vowing to slay them in their next match.

Live updates:

Minutes 90 -- Etebo goes out as Iwobi comes in. Six minutes of injury time given.

Minute 87-- Captain Gunnarsson is substituted out for Skulason

Minute 83 -- Moments after driving an effort wide, Iheanacho is substituted for Ighalo.

Minute 79 -- VAR moment! Penalty to Island.Finnbogasson races into the box and Ebuehi clips him at the byline! The referee initially dismisses the penalty appeal, but consults VAR and points to the spot! Sigurdsson takes the spot kick but fires it over the cross-bar.

Minute 74 (GOAL!!)-- A fine solo goal by Musa. The Leicester City forward again bombs down the left flank, beats Kari Arnason and rounds off the goalkeeper before firing in a goal. Nigeria 2-Iceland 0 

Minute 73 -- So near yet so far for Musa. He charges down the left, cuts in and takes a shot from the edge of the box but his curling effort rattles the bar.

Minute 67 -- It's Iceland's turn to shoot now. Gislason receives the ball in the midfield before driving it near Nigeria's box but his effort is up and over the bar.

Minute 65-- Moses crack one from the right-hand side but the ball can only find the side-netting.

Minute 64 -- Substitution by Iceland/ Sigurdsson, who received a head injury earlier is substituted off for Ingason. 

Minute 61 -- Iceland get a free-kick just outside the Nigeria box. Sigurdsson takes the resulting free-kick but it's straight at the hands of the Nigerian goalkeeper.

Minute 56 -- Nigeria are turning on the heat. This time it's Ndidi who receives the ball outside the box and takes a speculative shot. The shot, maybe, takes a deflection and is palmed away just over the bar by the Iceland goalkeeper.

Sigurdsson, who was marking Musa, is down after he takes an accidental knee to the back of the head while trying to block the Nigerian's shot. He receives a bandage around his head before the play resumes.

Minute 49 (GOAL!!)-- Nigeria go on a counter.. Victor Moses receives it on the left near the half-line and runs down the flank before pinging a cross into the box. Ahmed Musa brings the ball down with a sublime first touch before firing in a half-volley. What. A. Touch. Nigeria 1-Iceland 0.

Second-half begins.

Minute 46 -- T Ebuehi comes in for B Idowu in Nigeria's camp.


Half-time

Half-time analysis: The game between Iceland and Nigeria at the Volgograd Arena ends in a scoreless first half with Iceland perhaps having better chances although both the teams have looked blunt upfront. Nigeria started in a 3-5-2 while Iceland returned to their classic 4-4-2. In the first few minutes, Iceland attacked and created good chances one of which say Gylfi Sigurddson drawing a save out of Uzoho. However, Nigeria then seized control of the game and possession, which remained so for a long time. That is not to say that they created anything threatening. In fact, it was the Icelanders who, looking to break and opting to cross, had more opportunities to break the deadlock. One of those moments came late in the first half, when Iceland earned a free-kick in the Nigerian half. Sigurdsson's curving free-kick found Finnbogasson inside the box who failed to connect with the ball before it rolled out wide of the goal.

Nigeria might look to tweak their game-plan or introduce players more productive in the final third. As for Iceland, they have been in a good shape defensively, and ghitting on counter, they might just sneak in a goal.

Minute 45 -- Sigurdsson curving free-kick finds Finnbogasson inside the box who fails to connect with the ball which rolls out wide of the goal.

Minute 43 -- First yellow card of the game is shown to Bryan Idowu who slams into Bodvarsson who was looking to barge down the right flank.

Minute 37 -- Nigeria get a free-kick on the right-hand side of the Iceland box. Iheanacho takes the free-kick which hits the wall and runs out for a throw-in.

Minute 35-- An ambitious cross from the right flank and into the box for Iceland. Nigeria's Balogun gets the faintest of touches on the ball which runs out for a throw-in.

Minute 33 -- Saevarsson goes down inside the box, Iceland appeal for a penalty but the referee waves their protests away.

Minute 32 -- Iceland are closing down any potential Nigeria attack, courtesy their two back lines of four players each that have remained disciplined almost throughout the game.

Minute 29 -- Not a lot has happened in the last 10 minutes with the ball exchanging feets but neither team threatening the other team's goal.

Minute 21 -- Third corner for Iceland.

Minute 20 -- Iceland get a throw near the Nigeria box. The throw is short which is looped up by Nigeria's goalkeeper. Nigeria concede a corner. 

Minute 19 -- Nigeria have seen more of the ball till now and they have been the better side for almost last 10 minutes.

Minute 15 -- Good defending by Sigurdsson as he heads away a Nigerian delivery inside the box. After Iceland's flurry of attacks in the beginning, it's Nigeria's time to attack, it seems.

Minute 14 -- Iceland win a throw-in inside the Nigeria half. Gunnarsson throws  it long again, but Nigeria clear their lines.

Minute 13 -- And there's the popular thunderclap by Iceland supporters reverberating at the Volgograd.

Minute 5 -- Iceland get a nice opportunity as a ball is laid off in front of Gylfi Sigurdsson who takes it from just outside the box, but his shot is tame and on target, and the Nigeria goalkeeper deals comfortably with it.

Minute 2 -- Nigeria concede a free-kick just outside their penalty area. Gylfi Sigurdsson stands over it and draws an fine save from Nigeria's Francis Uzoho. They get a corner but fail to benefit from it.

Peeeepppppppppp!! And off we go!

Here is the squad for Iceland vs Nigeria match

Nigeria v Iceland line-ups

Nigeria: Uzoho, Omeruo, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Moses, Etebo, Mikel, Ndidi, Idowu, Musa, Iheanacho. Formation: 3-5-2

Subs: Ezenwa, Echiejile, Ighalo, Abdullahi, Simy, Obi, Onazi, Iwobi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Akpeyi.

Iceland: Halldorsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Magnusson, Gislason, Gunnarsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bjarnason, Bodvarsson, Finnbogason. Formation: 4-4-2

Subs: Schram, Fridjonsson, Albert Gudmundsson, Ingason, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Sigurdarson, Eyjolfsson, Olafur Ingi Skulason, Hallfredsson, Traustason, Ari Freyr Skulason, Runarsson.

Referee: Matthew Conger (Australia)

This is how we start the game against Nigeria.#fyririsland pic.twitter.com/pDAn99SxMF

— Knattspyrnusambandið (@footballiceland) June 22, 2018

Croatia are the only team from the group who have secured their place in the Round of 16. Argentina have one point from two games and are level with Iceland on points who have played one game less. Nigeria who meet Iceland today are yet to earn a point. A defeat today would knock Nigeria out of the tournament but a draw or win may make things interesting for Argentina who will get a fighting chance for survival.

However, beating Iceland won't be so easy for Nigeria who know that their European counterparts are tactically sure and defensively stoic. The Heimar Hallgrimsson-led side held Argentina to a 1-1 draw that gives them a slight chance of advancing. As for Nigeria, Crotia beat them 2-0.  

Iceland like to surrender the possession of the ball to their opponents and attack on the counter, a tactic which paid rich dividends during their Euro 2016 campaign as well as in their match against Argentina. They are unlikely to change their tactic against Nigeria despite the fact that the African nation boasts attackers like Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi or Jon Obi Mikel in their ranks. 

Apart from their attackers, Nigeria also have Wilfred Ndidi and Etebo Oghenekaro in the midfield. 

Hallgrimsson will have the support of Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson, Ragnar Sigurðsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Aron Gunnarsson to help Iceland take to the Round-of-16. Iceland can also expect to have around 20,000 fans cheering them on in Volgograd as they look to write another chapter in their incredible recent history.

Trivia:

-- All five of Nigeria’s wins at the World Cup have been against European sides, most recently against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014. (Source: OptaJoe)

-- Ahmed Musa has scored each of Nigeria's last three World Cup goals, with this goal meaning he is the highest goalscorer at World Cup tournaments for the Super Eagles. (Source: OptaJoe)

Where to watch

FIFA World Cup 2018 Nigeria vs Iceland match will take place on Friday, April 22, 2018 at 08:30 PM

Nigeria vs Iceland will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.

Nigeria vs Iceland match will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the Fifa World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.

Head-to-head: 3-0 was the result of the last encounter of Iceland and Nigeria, back in 1981 in Iceland.

Squads:

23-man Nigeria squad:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United/RSA), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP)

Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor/TUR), Leon Balogun (Brighton Hove Albion/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea/ENG), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm/RUS), Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto/POR), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge/BEL), Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica/POR)

Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda/CHN), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor/TUR), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva/ISR), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG),Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense/POR), Joel Obi (Torino FC/ITA)

Forwards: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai/CHN), Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho(Leicester City/ENG), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal/ENG), Simeon Nwankwo (FC Crotone/ITA), Victor Moses (Chelsea/ENG)

Formation and tactics: The Super Eagles played in a 4-2-3-1 formation in their match against Croatia. They were full of energy and played well in the midfield but their failure to find the net failed them. If they can right that area of the game, they will be a tough nut to crack. 

Key players: Alex Iwobi.

23-man Iceland squad:

Goalkeepers: Hannes Thor Halldorsson (Randers, Denmark), Runar Alex Runarsson (Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Frederik Schram (Roskilde, Denmark);

Defenders: Kari Arnason (Aberdeen, Scotland), Ari Freyr Skulason (Lokeren, Belgium), Birkir Mar Saevarsson (Valur), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Rostov, Russia), Hordur Magnusson (Bristol City, England), Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia, Bulgaria), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Rostov, Russia);

Midfielders: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley, England), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa, England), Arnor Ingvi Traustason (Malmo, Sweden), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese, Italy), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton, England), Olafur Ingi Skulason (Karabukspor, Turkey), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen, Germany), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga, Norway), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City, Wales);

Forwards: Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg, Germany), Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson (Rostov, Russia), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Reading, England), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV, Netherlands)

Formation and tactics: Iceland started in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Finnbogason leading the line. Unsurprisingly, they look to defend and hit on the counter. 

Key players: Alfred Finnbogason