Rio Olympics: Dream Team beat Honduras to win first medal for Nigeria

Rio - John Obi Mikel inspired Dream Team defeated Honduras 3-2 in the third place match of the men’s football event to win Nigeria’s first medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

A brace from Umar Sadiq and one from Aminu Umar gave Nigeria a 3-0 lead before a less-fancied Honduras side pulled two back through    Antony Lozano and Marcelo Pereira.

Nigeria’s first clear chance came in the 25th minute when Imoh Ezekiel had a one-on-one with goalkeeper Luis Lopez but fired just wide.

Honduras’ first best chance also came six minutes later, and it was a one-on-one too but Emmanuel Daniel blocked Alberth Elis, after both sides had clashed that saw Daniel call for medical attention.

Nigeria took the lead in the 34th minute when John Obi Mikel collected a pass from Ezekiel, made a forward move, dribbled two defenders and crossed pass goalkeeper Lopez to a well-position Umar Sadiq who slotted in effortlessly.

Honduras had a good opportunity to draw level by Elis’ free header could not find its way inside the net as the first half came to an end.

Four minutes into the second half, Aminu Umar extended Nigeria’s lead when Mikel’s shot was blocked by Lopez to gift the scorer a free ball.

Sadiq got his brace and Nigeria’s third goal in the 56th minute, off a pass from Mikel, ensuring the Chelsea midfielder record his third assist of the game.

Antony Lozano however reduced the deficit in the 71st minute, while defender Marcelo Pereira’s free header, off a freekick, went past Daniel to make it 3-2 in the 86th minute.

Four minutes was added after regulation time, but that was not enough for either side to change the score, as Nigeria win its first medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.