African champions, Nigeria got their 2015 Fifa U20 campaign back on track with a 4-0 win over Korea DPR on Wednesday.
The Flying Eagles needed a win to restore confidence after dramatically losing 2-4 to Brazil in their opening game of the competition on Monday.
Head coach, Manu Garba rang the changes as “big guns” Success Isaac, Musa Yahaya and Kelechi Iheanacho were dropped with Bernard Bulwa, Saviour Godwin and Kingsley Sokari restored in the starting XI in their place.
Goalkeeper, Joshua Enaholo was also given the nod to start despite making a couple of howlers against the South Americans on Monday.
In a first half lacking in genuine quality, goal chances were at a premium as the Koreans defended in numbers, ostensibly in a bid to avoid a repeat of the humiliating 1-5 reverse suffered against Hungary on match day one.
One of Nigeria’s few clear cut openings in the first half arrived in the 18th minute when Awoniyi was played through by Sokari but the attacker failed to keep his composure in the box and the chance was gone in a flash.
Seven minutes later, Bulbwa brought down at the edge of the Koran box as the Asians defended for dear life.
Captain, Musa Mohammed delivered the set piece well enough but the Korean goalkeeper, keeper Cha Jong-hun saved unconventionally before beating out the rebound by Awoniyi in impressive fashion.
A minute later, Awoniyi warmed the palms of Jong-hun again as the Nigerian onslaught on the Korean goal unabated.
The Koreans mustered a couple of half chances before the break but neither side could get the breakthrough.
Surprisingly, it was the underdogs that almost scored first as the second half commenced in frenetic fashion.
Jo Kwang-myong hit the side netting but the effort would not have counted as he had been flagged offside moments earlier.
Three minutes after the restart, Nigeria were in front with a delightful goal.
Mohammed produced a pin-point delivery from the right and Godwin headed home with Jong-hun in no man’s land.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0 to Nigeria and Godwin was the man yet again.
The 18-year-old showed quick feet and composure beyond his tender years to pass the ball into the back of the net after he was set up in exemplary fashion by Awoniyi.
Unsurprisingly, the tempo dropped as Nigeria, now certain of three points took their foot off the gas.
The tempo however picked up in the 71st minute when Sokari scored the goal of the game-a rocket unleashed with pace and power which nestled in the top right hand corner of the Korean goal.
Substitute, Isaac scored a late fourth to see the Africans win with some style as they finally got their name on the board.
Nigeria will virtually seal their place in the knockout stages with a win over Hungary in their final preliminary game on June 7, reports supersport.com.
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