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Nigeria's Olympic football team beat Belgium in the semi-final in Shanghai. Their dream of emulating the team of 1996 lives on.
Nigeria's Olympic football team beat Belgium in the semi-final in Shanghai.
Their dream of emulating the team of 1996 lives on.
Nigeria 4-1 Belgium
90 min Full time! Nigeria cruise through to meet either Argentina or Brazil 4-1. It has been a magnificent display from the Dream Team. Bring on the final. But they've got silver at least.
89 min The gloss nearly comes off as Vanzekin fumbles and offers a half chance to Belgium.
87 min Its too late for Belgium but they get one back through Laurent Ciman - a well struck free kick.
85 min This is getting silly! Ekpo strikes one from 35 yards and its only just wide. Belgium have had the stuffing knocked out of them.
77 min Another one! Its 4! Chibuzor Okonkwo strikes from distance - that's a long distance! The keeper gets a hand to it but its in off the post.
72 min And that's the lot from Obasi who's subbed for Promise Isaac.
71 min Goal! It gets better and better! An awesome strike from 25 yards by Obasi puts Nigeria 3-0 up. Bring on Brazil (or Argentina!).
66 min They're en fuego!!. That's "on fire" to you and me. Nigeria are peppering the Belgian goal. There must be more to come.
64 min It should be all over, but with the goal at his mercy Victor Anichebe just taps it wide. It was a superbly weighted pass from Ekpo but Anichebe, with the keeper beaten, couldn't control it.
62 min The Belgian coach has to do something and he pulls off Martens and replaces him with sub Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe.
58 min Now that is a goal! Nigeria double their lead as Anichebe perfectly times a pass to Obasi, who beats the offside trap and slots home from 10 yards. Beautifully worked and a deserved 2-0 lead for the Dream Team. They're on their way to the final.
56 min Everton's Victor Anichebe replaces Solomon Okoronkwo.
54 minBelgium are fired up but Vanzekin is equal to them for the time being! Two quick fire saves preserve Nigeria's lead. One a tip onto the bar, the other, from the resulting corner, low down to his left. He's had to be quick, and he has been both times.
51 min Odemwingie nicks the ball from his own skipper just as he's about the shoot! Then he tries a little back heel which bounces off Bailly in the Belgian goal and out for a corner. But the set-piece fizzles out.
49 min Ekpo gets in the thick of the action straight away as he skips over a couple of challenges before trying to shoot, but it skews wide.
47 min Substitution by Nigeria. Ebenezer Ajilore is replaced by Emmanuel Ekpo.
46 min Ok here we go with the second half - the Belgians were out much earlier than the Nigerians. Can the Dream Team maintain their focus and their lead? We will find out in the next 45. If they win, its Brazil or Argentina in the final.
45 min Half-time. Nigeria lead 1-0. A good performance from the Dream Team - it looks like Samson Siasia's message has got through. But there is still enough from Belgium to present some danger, so Nigeria can't relax just yet.
43 min The closest yet for Belgium but their man fluffs his lines in the box, and can only put it over when he recovers. But a let-off for Nigeria.
42 min A brave save from Vanzekin as he dives at the feet of a Belgian striker. He's ok though.
37 min Belgium's de Mul has his team's best chance so far - a curling shot from distance which just goes over the top. But if that's the best they can do Nigeria will be in the final.
36 min Okoronkwo again - this time he gets past the defence but the keeper narrows the angle and it just goes wide.
34 min Okoronkwo breaks down the right but the Belgian defence manages to clear.
30 min At last a Belgian attack, but the ball dribbles weakly through to the Nigerian keeper - the Europeans don't look to have much answer to Nigeria at the moment. But there's a long way to go.
24 min Things have settled down - a bit, but it is still the Dream Team show at the moment. Samson Siasia berated the side after their last group game for showboating. This time the tricks are there but they are effective. Stepovers and backheels - move over Ronaldo!
19 min Belgium come close to a quick equaliser but the Nigerian defence eventually scramble it clear - this is going to be a thriller.
16 min GOAL! Nigeria take the lead as Olubayo Adefemi strikes. It was a loose clearance from the Belgians and he pounced to drive it home into the bottom right hand corner. The keeper got a hand to it, but there was enough power to see it home.
14 min Belgium aren't here by mistake - they had a super win over Italy in the quarter-finals and they shouldn't be underestimated. Vanzekin is forced into another save from the Belgian right.
13 min Another chance goes abegging for Nigeria - they're dominating the game so far but don't have anything to show for it - yet.
12 min Odemwingie is the star of the show as far as the Dream Team are concerned - he's orchestrating all the action for Nigeria.
9 min Obinna breaks down the left and finds Odemwingie in the Belgian area, but his shot loops high and wide.
7 min Belgium have settled a bit now - they looked very nervous to start with. Vanzekin ahs been called into action for the first time.
1 min Peter Odemwingie starts Nigeria's first attack, down the left hand side. The cross is a good one and forces the Belgian keeper into the first save of the game.
Teams
Nigeria: Vanzekin, Okonkwo, Apam, Adeleye, Olubayo, Kaita, Ajilore, Obasi Ogbuke, Obinna, Okoronkwo, Odemwingie. Subs: Ikechukwu, Monday, Promise, Ambrose, Anichebe, Ekpo, Olufemi.
Belgium: Bailly, De Roover, Pocognoli, Simaeys, Haroun, Vertonghen, Martens, Vanden Borre, De Mul, Mirallas, Dembele. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Ciman, Mulemo, Odjija Ofoe, De Winter, Vermaelen, Fellaini.