Musa's brace fires Nigeria to victory as Iceland falter

Going in to the game, this was probably not a fixture that was thought could bring goals and excitement, with both teams having attacking difficulties in their previous games.

Iceland were riding high after their impressive draw against two-time world champions Argentina, and many expected them to win this game and make a place in the final 16 of their first World Cup a virtual guarantee.

The first half was a somewhat tepid affair, in which both teams seemed to be happier defending than going for a goal. There were several episodes in which the two sides' midfields seemed to be playing football tennis, keeping the ball in the air for long periods.

However scrappy it was in the middle of the park, the Icelandic team grew in to the half as it went on, and by the end of the first period they were peppering Francis Uzoho's net.

In total they managed 13 shots on the Super Eagles' goal, but none of them were particularly testing as the two teams went in to the dressing rooms as equally frustrated as those who were watching.

-Nigeria's inspired second half-

It was apparent to everyone watching the game that Nigeria needed to improve massively in the second half of the game, but the second period seemed to resume the somewhat messy preceedings.

However, on the 50th minute, the Nigerians launched a devastating counter-attack, with the ball being sent down the right flank. The ball landed at the feet of winger Victor Moses who curled the ball in to the opposition box in search of Ahmed Musa.

While the ball seemed to be too high for the Leicester City man to control, he pulled off a miraculous touch to get the ball under his spell, and then rifled it high in to Hannes Halldorsson's net to give his side a shock lead in the match.

The game then sparked in to life following that effort, with Nigeria taking more and more risks to try and add a second to their tally.

Iceland never really found their stride in the second half and whenever they did manage to string a few passes together their final product was simply not good enough to trouble the 19 year-old Nigerian goalkeeper.

In the 70th minute, the ball once more fell to Musa, this time on the left wing. Taking on the Icelandic defender Kari Arnason, the forward showed his pace and power to get in to the box, before calmly rounding the 'keeper and slotting home excellently to send the 'Super Eagles' in to wild celebration.

- Sigurdsson's penalty woes -

Following the second Nigerian goal, it seemed as though it would be very difficult for the Nordic side to get anything from the game, as Nigeria seemed to pass the ball around nonchalantly and in complete control.

Despite this, in the 80th minute, the referee put his finger to his ear, and as has become so common in this summer's tournament, made his way over to the small screen at the side of the pitch to review a potential penalty incident.

VAR intervened in the Nordic minnows' favour, with referee Matthew Conger deciding to award the penalty.

As Everton's Gyfli Sigurdsson stepped up to take the kick, the pressure was evident as he inhaled deeply to calm his nerves, but it wasn't enough and he hit the kick over the bar 

After that miss, there was no turning back and Nigeria confidently saw out the game to give themselves their first win in the competition.

This result gave a lifeline to Argentina, after their shock loss to Croatia yesterday. Nigeria play them next in Group D, which will make for a fascinating match-up.

As for Iceland, their chances of reaching another knockout stage in a major tournament looks bleak, with Croatia having dominated the group so far, and they will want to guarantee they top it to make their round of 16 match easier.

Gylfi Sigurdsson will have to put the penalty miss behind him and play the match of his life to try and turn his nation's fortunes around.