Nigeria 0 Serbia 2 : Super Eagles Slump To 2-0 Loss In London

A dominant Serbia humbled Nigeria 2-0 in an international friendly at the Hive Stadium on Tuesday night.

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr made four changes to the side that pipped Poland 1-0 in Wroclaw.

The 64-year-old handed starting shirts to Tyronne Ebuehi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa and Chidozie Awaziem.

The Serbs easily moved the ball around in the opening 8 minutes and forced the Super Eagles to chase the ball.

Aleksandar Mitrovic forced Francis Uzoho to a save in the 9th minute after he nutmegged Onazi at the edge of the box.

The Eagles then upped the ante and attacked with precision.

CSKA Moscow star, Musa, who played as a centre forward then ran at the Serbian defence before being crowded out.

Victor Moses showed quality with a great shot which was palmed away by Stojkovic while Onazi tried his luck from long range.

Serbia were undaunted. They launched two forays which was well cleared by Brian Idowu and Alex Iwobi.

Mitrovic thought his header had gone over the line but Uzoho stopped the ball. Replays showed the ball had crossed the line.

The dangerous crosses floated by the Serbs to the Eagles box caused the duo of William Troost Ekong and Awaziem all sorts of problems.

Serbia bombarded the Eagles and were almost rewarded for their efforts in the 25th minute. A low shot from Dusan Tadic was superbly saved by Uzoho at the near post.

Three minutes later, the dashing Moses found the productive run of Iwobi and set him up. The Arsenal man flashed his effort wide off the goal.

In the 35th minute, a rampaging Moses skied his shot when he should have punished the European side after a mix up at the edge of the area.

A well worked team move released Filip Kostic at the left hand side. The forward couldn't apply the finishing touch with Uzoho in wonderland.

The first half ended 0-0 in London.

Recognizing the need for a recognized number 9, Rohr sent on Odion Jude Ighalo for Victor Moses at the beginning of the second stanza to beef up the attack.

The mountainous frame of Uzoho continued to make the difference for the African side as he made himself big to deny Adem Ljajic after a tailor made pass from Mitrovic put him through.

Nigeria lacked the fluidity to unlock the defence of Serbia, Substitute Ighalo failed to connect the beautiful run of Iwobi on the counter. It was a poor ball from the Changchun Yatai striker.

Uzoho was called to duty again in the 59th minute. He stood grounded to foil Branislav Ivanovic from 6 yards.

Shortly after the hour, Musa flashed a sweet ball across which evaded Ighalo in the area.

The former Granada and Watford star should have drawn the curtain raiser following a goal mouth scramble. His shot was blocked by Nastasic for a corner.

Serbia had a deserved lead nine minutes after the hour from a well orchestrated move by Kostic. Mitrovic was at the right place to smash the ball beyond Uzoho.

The duo of Iwobi and Musa were involved in setting up Ighalo in the box.The striker fired tamely under pressure.

Kostic came alive with a bullet of an effort which was calmly taken by Uzoho.

Things turned from bad to worse for Nigeria when Serbia doubled their advantage from another world class move.

Kostic ripped apart the Eagles backline before turning provider for Mitrovic and the forward showed appreciation with a classy strike.

The introduction of John Ogu, Moses Simon, Mikel Agu, Ola Aina and Junior Ajayi failed to give the Eagles the needed spark as Serbia saw out the match 2-0.

Nigeria XI: Uzoho, Idowu, Ebuehi, Ekong, Awaziem, Ndidi, Obi, Onazi, Musa,Moses, Iwobi

Serbia XI: Stojkovic, Rukavina, Ivanovic, Nastasic, Kolarov, Matic,Milivojevic, Tadic, Kostic, Ljajic, Mitrovic

Abayomi Ademetan