Getting ready for the World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia
comes in different ways for Nigerian players. On Sunday, Victor Moses
celebrated his 100th English Premier League appearance with the match
against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. It was a superb outing for
the Super Eagles attacker as his team Liverpool defeated their hosts 3-1
to move up to the second spot of the league table.
Moses who joined the Reds on loan from Chelsea at the start of the
season said he was excited by the result. His key goal attempt was
saved.
He wrote via his Twitter handle, “Buzzin with the win great result the lads were brilliant.”
Moses has been called up by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for the
October 13 match in Addis Ababa in search of a Brazil 2014 World Cup
ticket.
But the match was not just for the Nigerian as Luis Suarez crowned his Premier League return with a brace.
Having completed a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav
Ivanovic last season, Suarez scored in each half at the Stadium of Light
as Liverpool ended a run of three games without victory.
Daniel Sturridge had given Liverpool the lead with his fifth goal of
the season, with Emanuele Giaccherini replying for Sunderland early in
the second half after Suarez had made it 2-0.
It was Sunderland’s first league game since the dismissal of manager
Paolo Di Canio, but although they are now four points from safety,
interim coach Kevin Ball will have been heartened by their second-half
reaction.
Both sides threatened from early set-pieces, Keiren Westwood denying
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Sebastian Larsson rattling the
visitors’ bar, before the away side went ahead in contentious
circumstances in the 28th minute.
A left-wing corner found Sturridge unmarked at the back post and
although he shaped to head the ball, it actually struck his elbow before
bouncing over the line.
Sunderland’s defenders did not appeal, however, and eight minutes
later Sturridge’s teasing low cross from the right allowed Suarez to
slide home his first goal since completing his suspension.
The Uruguayan celebrated by lifting his jersey to reveal a T-shirt
bearing a picture of his family with his new-born son Benjamin, who was
born on Thursday. Moses son Brentley celebrated his first birthday last
Friday.
The hosts were quick to react though, and after former Sunderland
goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had saved with his feet from Craig Gardner and
Adam Johnson had shot narrowly over, they drew level in the 52nd
minute.
Mignolet could only parry a low drive by Ki Sung-yueng and
Giaccherini swept the loose ball home with his left foot to reduce the
arrears.
There were chances for both teams, Mignolet denying Gardner again,
while Westwood saved from Victor Moses and Kolo Toure, before Suarez
tucked in his second goal from another Sturridge cross in the 89th
minute.
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