Date: 02-06-2002
Stage: first round
Place: IBARAKI
Running time: 103 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: HD 1080 50fps (9,5)
Commentary: MULTI : spanish/italian
My rating: ***
Notes: Zanetti,Veron,Simeone,Batistuta,Lopez, West,Okocha,Kanu
MATCH SUMMARY
Sunday, 2 June 2002, 14:30
Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
Attendance: 34,050
Meteo: Humid, partly cloudy, 26 °C
ARGENTINA
Pablo Cavallero
Diego Placente
Mauricio Pochettino
Walter Samuel
Diego Simeone
Juan Pablo Sorin
Juan Sebastian Veron (c)
Javier Zanetti
Gabriel Batistuta
Claudio López
Ariel Ortega
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa (ARG)
51′ Walter Samuel
90′ Diego Simeone
46′ ↓Claudio López ↑Kily González
61′ ↓Gabriel Batistuta ↑Hernán Crespo
78′ ↓Juan Sebastian Veron ↑Pablo Aimar
NIGERIA
Ike Shorunmu
Isaac Okoronkwo
Efe Sodje
Taribo West
Joseph Yobo
Celestine Babayaro
Garba Lawal
Jay Jay Okocha (c)
Julius Aghahowa
Nwankwo Kanu
Bart Ogbeche
Coach: Adegboye Onigbinde (NGA)
73′ Efe Sodje
48′ ↓Nwankwo Kanu ↑Pius Ikedia
73′ ↓Efe Sodje ↑Justice Christopher
Referee: Gilles Veissière (FRA)
Goals:
63′ Gabriel Batistuta ARG
Match overview
Argentina dominated possession but met stubborn Nigerian resistance until Batistuta powered a near-post header from Ortega’s corner just past the hour. Bielsa’s side managed the game efficiently thereafter, restricting the Super Eagles to long-range efforts and beginning their Group F campaign with a narrow but deserved victory.
Trivia
Batistuta’s strike lifted him to ten World Cup goals, overtaking Maradona and equalling Argentina’s competition record. It was also his final goal for the national team, scored with his final touch before being substituted for Crespo.
