Respected and well travelled Algerian journalist Raidi Mazher says coach Georges Leekens is right, when he said Kelechi Iheanacho’s movement in the box allowed Victor Moses to wreck havoc.
Moses scored a brace in Nigeria’s 3-1 win but the coach of Algeria believed it was the constant running through spaces by Iheanacho that allowed Moses, the time and space to score both goals.
His views have been corroborated by Mazher who was in Nigeria for the game, and he gave a detailed breakdown of how Iheanacho movement in the box wrecked his team in a chat with Owngoalnigeria.com.
” Leekens is right, all three goals scored by Nigeria wouldn’t have been possible if not for the tireless running by Iheanacho. He attacked all available spaces, and dragged the defenders out of their natural postion” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” The first goal scored by Nigeria. He dragged two defenders and one of them stuck out a foot,which deflected the ball into the path of Victor Moses to score from the space left open by the defenders who went with Iheanacho.
” Mikel’s goal was started by him. He picked the ball in the box after a well timed run from behind. Two defender couldn’t keep up with his pace and when he returned the ball to Iwobi. The defenders out of their position were slow in moving out before Etebo spotted Mikel for the second goal.
” When Ahmed Musa peeled away from the right for Nigeria’s third goal, Iheanacho attacked the first pole and took two defenders with him, the space vacated was used by Moses to good effect. So you see Leekens is right”.
