Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has explained how his team recovered from going two goals down to drawing 3-3 against Russia in an international friendly, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Kelechi Iheanacho gave a much changed Nigerian team the lead in the 10th minute, but the team made up of players largely meant to represent the U23 in the Olympic qualifiers went into the break trailing 1-2.
Upon resumption, Russia added a third to take scores to 3-1 but a dogged Nigerian side fought gallantly to draw 3-3 with goals from debutant Peter Edokpolor and Akor Adams who scored in the final minutes of regulation time.
Speaking after the game, Chelle revealed the moment the game turned in the favour of his team despite losing 1-3. ” This is a draw and the game was good for both teams. We had momentum for us in the first half then they had big momentum at the end of the first half. This is why they scored two goals”, he said at the post match presser.
“In the beginning of the second half it was the same. We found a solution because tactically we changed a little something something about our strikers and at the end we found a solution and this is why we scored two goals in transition. So the state of mind of my players was very good and this I must say helped us as well”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
