The U20 team of the Dominican Republic gave up this Sunday by 2-1 against the power of Nigeria, which embittered the historic debut in a World Cup of the Central American team at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium in the city of Mendoza.
Edison Azcona excited the Caribbean country with a penalty goal indicated by the VAR in the 23rd minute, but Guillermo de Peña got a goal in his own goal in the 31st to leave everything the same. In the second half, the team led by Cuban coach Walter Benitez did not resist the push of the Africans, who certified the comeback through Samson Lawal in the 26th minute. And they could have been more if not for the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Xavier Valdez. Nigeria thus adds its first three points in Group D of this World Cup in Argentina that Italy and Brazil complete.
The match was very bumpy with eternal interventions of the VAR and several medical attentions. It also served to confirm the physical and tactical superiority of the 'Super Eagles'.
Despite this, the Dominican team was revolutionized after singing the national anthem loudly for a technical failure in the PA system. Azcona was the beacon of his team. The Africans fast-tracked that enthusiasm by opening spaces for their attacking trident of Lawal, Muhammad and Sunday, the latter the best of the match.
The Real Sapphire winger entered like a stiletto on the left wing. It was torture for the defenders.
Although the first to strike was Benítez's team in a penalty committed on Guillermo de Peña. Football stuff. Japanese referee Yusuke Araki didn't see it, but VAR did. Azcona was in charge of transforming the maximum penalty and thus scoring his country's first goal in a World Cup.
Little did the joy last, because less than ten minutes later Guillermo de Peña returned the equality with a goal against.
The draw left the Creoles very touched, who did not leave at a disadvantage at halftime thanks to the interventions of Valdez. Sunday was the great victim of the success of the Houston Dynamo goalkeeper.
The doubt for the second half was whether the Dominican Republic would withstand the push of Nigeria. And no, he didn't hold on.
The second half began with a hard setback for the Super Eagles when they lost their 9: Lawal due to injury. Nothing affected them because they continued to attack with verve, now with Emmanuel Umeh.
The Quisqueyans, however, were burned in the feet of the ball. Too much precipitation. Azcona was blurred with just one good shot from outside the area and Derek Cuevas only left some quality detail.
And in those came the goal of Samsom Lawal, who took advantage of a failure from the back to put the final 2-1. The Creole team showed its face, but it was insufficient.
Fountain; EFE
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