Gareth Williams made a promising Scotland debut
Christian Dailly heads Scotland in front at Pittodrie
Neil McCann grapples with Joseph Yobo.	Steven Thompson was full of running
Gareth Williams positions himself well to head off Nwankwo Kanu’s challenge at Pittodrie.
Nigeria's Isaac Okoronkwo tussles with Scotland's Neil McCann
Nigeria's Julius Aghahowa celebrates his second goal against Scotland

Scotland 1, Nigeria 2
Dailly (7), Aghahowa (40, 69)
17 April 2002
Pittodrie, Aberdeen
Att: 20,645

Scots' new sense of promise by GLENN GIBBONS
 

UNACCUSTOMED as he is to losing two internationals in a row - it had never happened before last night - Berti Vogts neverthless would find the experience almost palatable. From a friendly in which he introduced seven new players and saw Scotland take the lead through Christian Dailly before succumbing to superior quality and experience, the little German would draw a certain, justified optimism.

For Vogts, and anyone sharing the manager’s quest for a regenerated national team, the most encouraging aspect of the Scots’ performance was not only discernible before the game was ten minutes old, but was of such significance that it rendered the result virtually meaningless.

After a number of years of seemingly incurable pedestrianism, Scotland appeared at last to have a team with genuine pace. It is a quality utterly essential to any side with aspirations at international level, and the lack of it has been for some time the most serious hindrance to competing credibly with opponents of any repute.

In addition to this immensely gratifying revelation, there was an unmistakable buoyancy and self-assurance about the novices sprinkled through the side, all six of them apparently untainted by anxiety or awe as they went about their work in the manner of players who know how best to exploit their opportunities.

Rab Douglas settled himself in goal by holding to his stomach a ferocious 25-yard drive from Jay Jay Okocha, a moment from which he seemed to draw the confidence to deal later with golden chances which should have allowed the Nigerians to equalise Dailly’s goal some time before they did.

The Celtic goalkeeper, one of the four debutants, made a terrific save from Nwankwo Kanu, diving quickly to his right to push away the low drive after the Arsenal forward had danced towards the edge of the penalty area.

He followed up with an even more breathtaking effort, getting down to his left to foil Bartholomew Ogbeche after the Paris Saint-Germain player had broken free on the left side of the box and shot from six yards.

A goal then would have been a little severe on the home side, who had earned their advantage, although the visitors were good value for their equaliser by the time it arrived. Dailly scored his second international goal by rising to Scot Gemmill’s well-placed corner kick from the right and, from around eight yards, heading it far to the right of Austin Ejide.

The goal may have come from a set piece, but there was sufficient quick and intelligent movement and slick passing in those opening 25 minutes to make any spectator understand why Vogts had been so impressed by his new players during their two days of preparation in Aberdeen.

Robbie Stockdale was alert and strong at right back, Gareth Williams a composed and apparently knowledgable "anchor" between defence and midfield, and Kevin McNaughton a forceful presence on the right of midfield, connecting well with Stockdale, Paul Lambert, Steven Thompson and Gemmill by turn.

It was from the young Aberdeen player’s low centre, after receiving a precise pass from Gemmill, that Thompson’s first-time flick carried just wide, while Lambert, clear on the left side of the area, had an opportunity to supply unmarked teammates on the six-yard line, but chose to try to kid the goalkeeper, who blocked the low shot by stretching out his left leg.

The Nigerians, not surprisingly for a team of their calibre, had imposed themselves by the time they equalised, although it was a bad moment from Stephen Crainey. Trying to thwart Kanu, he succeeded merely in playing the ball straight to Aghahowa, who dinked it past the stranded Douglas from six yards.

Keeping faith with his promise, Vogts replaced Stockdale with Graham Alexander at the interval and, soon after, removed Williams to give Michael Stewart of Manchester United his first cap, bringing the number of debutants to six in one night.

In the circumstances, there was no disgrace in being given the occasional run-around by a Nigerian side who were predictably athletic, skilful and alert. It was to the credit of the novices that they did not allow themselves to be discouraged.

Indeed, the Scots could have regained the lead when Williams, before his departure, played a terrific pass to Neil McCann in the inside-left position, the Rangers winger’s low shot once again saved by Ejide.

But it was the visitors who gave a demonstration of deadly forward surging when they took the lead. Pius Ikedia, who had replaced John Utaka, bolted to the dead-ball line on the right and delivered one of those indefensible centres, the ball curling out towards Aghahowa. The Shakhtar Donetsk forward bulleted the header low past Douglas from eight yards.

McCann, however, should have given his team parity shortly afterwards, when he ran clear on the right with only Ejide to beat. He tried to pull the ball wide of the goalkeeper, but simply allowed the latter to smother the ball at his feet.

Garry O’Connor, the 18-year-old Hibs striker, brought the number of new caps up to seven when he replaced Thompson at a time when the home side needed a refill of urgency, aggressiveness and power in the front line. But, in relating the performance to Euro 04 qualifiers against the Faroes and Iceland, it is difficult to stifle a sense of promise.

Scotland (4-1-3-2) Douglas; Stockdale (Alexander 46), Weir, Dailly, Crainey; Williams (Stewart 64); McNaughton, Lambert, Gemmill (Caldwell 46); Thompson (O'Connor 75), McCann (Johnston 79). Subs: Davidson, Crawford, Ross, Combe, P Gallacher

Nigeria (4-4-2) Ejide; Yobo, Okoronkwo, Sodje (Ifejiawaga 85), Christopher; Ejiofor, Okocha, Kanu, Utaka (Ikedia 55); Ogbeche, Aghahowa. Subs: Bankole, Eze, Kaku, Mancha, Akwuegbu, Ugali, Adepoju, Odemwingie, Ldaehor.

Referee: Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway)