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SOCCER: Nigeria advances with win over US

Nigeria’s Promise Isaac, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the US during their Group B men’s soccer match in Beijing yesterday. Photo: AP

Promise Isaac and Victor Obinna scored to lead Nigeria over a 10-man US team 2-1 yesterday, earning a place in the quarter-finals of the Olympic soccer tournament and eliminating the Americans.

Isaac scored in the 39th minute with an easy tap-in off Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi’s centering pass and Obinna curled a right-footed shot into the top of goal in the 80th.

Sacha Kljestan converted an 88th-minute penalty for the US and Benny Feilhaber headed onto the post in the 90th as the US was eliminated from Group B after the Netherlands beat Japan 1-0.

The US played a man short from the third minute when defender Michael Orozco was ejected.

“We have a good team when it’s not playing like this,” Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said after his players failed to capitalize on the extra advantage. “You go out there and play with showboating ... if we don’t take care of these things, we’re going to have a lot of problems.”

The nervy finish saw the Americans come close, thanks to substitute Charlie Davies. Nigeria also missed a host of opportunities to seal it as the US pressed for the equalizer.

■NETHERLANDS 1, JAPAN 0

AP, SHENYANG

Gerald Sibon converted a second-half penalty kick yesterday to give the Netherlands a 1-0 win over Japan and a spot in the quarter-finals.

A pre-tournament favorite, the Dutch finished second in Group B with five points. Nigeria advanced to first place with seven points after beating the US. The Americans finished with four points and Japan with zero.

■CAMEROON 0, ITALY 0

AP, TIANJIN

Cameroon held Italy to a 0-0 draw yesterday despite playing the final 58 minutes with 10 men, a result that sent the Africans to the quarter-finals along with the Italians.

Cameroon had to play a man down after forward Georges Mandjeck was sent off for appearing to step on the ankle of Antonio Nocerino as they were challenging for a 50-50 ball. The red card forced Cameroon to withdraw Serge Ngal into midfield and play with Christian Bekamenga alone up front.

■S KOREA 1, HONDURAS 0

AP, SHANGHAI

Defender Kim Dong-jin fired South Korea to a 1-0 victory over Honduras although it was not enough to secure a place in the Olympic soccer quarter-finals.

Kim’s 23rd-minute goal at the Shanghai Olympic Stadium yesterday meant the Koreans finished with four points from their three Group D games. But they remained third behind Italy and Cameroon, who qualified for the last eight.

■IVORY COAST 1, AUSTRALIA 0

AP, TIANJIN

Salomon Kalou converted one of his several chances in the 81st minute, giving the Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Australia to send it to the quater-finals in their first appearance in the men’s Olympic soccer tournament.

The Ivorians finished with seven points, two behind Group A winner Argentina and six ahead of the Australians in third place.

Ivory Coast advanced to face fellow African side Nigeria on Saturday in Qinhuangdo. After finishing fifth in 2004 in Athens, the Australians were eliminated with only a pair of draws and having scored only one goal.