International friendlies - Late equaliser gives Nigeria draw against Scotland

International friendly, Craven Cottage - Scotland 2 (Muglrew 10' Egwueke og 52') Nigeria 2 (Uchebo 42' Nwofor 90')
International friendlies - Late equaliser gives Nigeria draw against Scotland
Nigeria celebrate v Scotland (Reuters)

Nigeria began their World Cup preparations with a 2-2 draw with Scotland at Craven Cottage.
The build-up to the game was overshadowed by rumours of investigations into match-fixing, but no concrete details had come to light. Nigeria were in London before they left the country to begin their preparations for the World Cup, and Scotland are rebuilding for their European Championship campaign.

Scotland took the lead in the match when a quick corner came to James Morrison, who drove a low shot into the box for Charlie Mulgrew to cleverly flick over the goalkeeper.
There were few chances for either side in an uneventful half, but Nigeria equalised just before half-time when Michael Uchebo picked up the ball outside the box, drove towards goal and had his shot deflected away from the Allan McGregor and into the net.
In the second half, Scotland regained the lead shortly after the restart, when Azubuike Egwueke turned in Alan Hutton's low cross.
From that moment, the rhythm of the game was disrupted with regular substitutions, meaning that no side could put together any fluid moves but Nigeria managed a dramatic equaliser when a goal mouth scramble allowed Uche Nwofor to drill in an equaliser from a tight angle.
KEY EVENTS
8' - UCHEBO SHOT - Hutton's pass is intercepted, but McGregor gets down smartly to saved from Uchebo.
10' - MULGREW SCORES - Mulgrew expertly turns Morrison's shot over the 'keeper to give Scotland the lead.
32' - NAISMITH DISALLOWED GOAL - Maloney's corner is met by Naismith, who heads over the line but the referee whistles for a foul on the keeper.
35' - AMEOBI SHOT - Uzoenyi finds Ameobi, who takes a touch into the box and shoots well over.
42' - UCHEBO GOAL - Uchebo picks up the ball in midfield, and his shot from outside the box is deflected away from McGregor and into the net.
49' - MCGREGOR SAVE - The ball falls to Ameobi on the edge of the box, and his sweetly-struck shot is saved by the Scottish 'keeper.
52' - EGWUEKE OWN GOAL - Hutton gets in behind the defence on the right, sends in a low ball, and Egwueke has no option but to slide towards it and put it in his own goal.
86' - NWOFOR HEADER - A cross from deep comes into the box, and Nwofor heads it just over the bar.
90' - NWOFOR SCORES - Scotland fail to clear the ball from the box, it drops to Nwofor who takes a shot from a tight angle and squeezes a shot in at the far post.

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KEY STATS
Two-thirds of Nigeria's goals in World Cup qualifying came in the last 15 minutes of games, and they managed another with their equaliser in this match.
Nigeria have not lost a game since January - and unbeaten in seven.
Scotland are unbeaten in six matches, their best record since 2007.
This was only the second time that the two sides have met.
MATCHCAST: FULL MATCH STATS AND COMMENTARY
TALKING POINT
Poor Austin Ejide throws ball into own net, and conspiracy theorists a bone: It may have been under the pressure of Scotland's attackers that he simply fumbled, but after all the rumours of match-fixing it certainly came at an awful moment for the 'keeper. Luckily, the referee disallowed the goal.

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MAN OF THE MATCH
Charlie Muglrew (Scotland): In what was a disappointing match, somewhat inevitable due to the number of substitutions, Mulgrew deserves the award for his excellent improvisation to open the scoring.
PLAYER RATINGS
Nigeria: Ejide 4, Odunlami 5, Elderson 5, Obi 5, Yobo 5, Uzoenyi 6, Gabriel 5, Uchebo 6, Shola Ameobi 5, Babatunde 6, Egwueke 6. Subs: Igiebor 6, Odemwingie 6, Moses 6, Nwofor 7, Oduamadi 6.
Scotland: McGregor 6, Hutton 5, Robertson 5, Brown 5, Hanley 5, Greer 5, Morrison 6, Mulgrew 7, Naismith 6, Maloney 6, Anya 6. Subs: Martin 6, Forsyth 6, Whittaker 5, Boyd 5,

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