00:01Bulgaria made three changes with Emil Kostadinov coming into the starting line-up.
00:06He scored the last-minute winner at the Parc des Princes,
00:08which denied France a place at the last World Cup finals.
00:12This match was at the same venue. Watch by John Champion.
00:17So Bulgaria temporarily at least down to ten men, as Adepoju takes the free kick.
00:25Gennady-George, who likes to crack them, and Stravkov made a bit of a hash of it.
00:31And is fortunate that the ball ricocheted away for a corner.
00:37His handling was not that convincing.
00:44It was a flat, more than anything else.
00:54First corner of the game, and the header from Toribo West, and it was a free header.
01:03Where was the Bulgarian marking?
01:11Sando Lelise.
01:16Khabar was fouled by Kishichev.
01:24Radistin Kishichev has been asked to play it right back.
01:28Because of the suspension incurred by Anatoly Nankov.
01:37And it's all hands to the pumps for Zradkov and company.
01:41Because we know what Olysee can do from distance.
01:44This is Sunday Olysee!
01:47Olysee!
01:54Well, he wrapped in the winner against Spain, in the previous game.
01:58And that was adjacent to the upright.
02:06Teba jumped, didn't make contact.
02:08This is Amakachi.
02:12And now Finidi-George.
02:25Ococha.
02:29Now into Balakoff.
02:30Instead, it's Celestine Babiara of Chelsea.
02:34Cross for Ikteba!
02:37Well, he succeeded in losing his man, who was Yankov.
02:41And in getting that couple of yards of space,
02:44he couldn't quite retain the sort of balance needed to keep the header on target.
02:59Loire.
03:01Babiara.
03:04Now, Ococha.
03:08Amakachi to Ikteba.
03:10Lovely feint.
03:11Terrific goal.
03:14Victor Ikteba of Monaco puts Nigeria in front with an impudent piece of goal-scoring.
03:23And the hordes from Lagos and beyond, and indeed from right across Europe through Nigerian exiles,
03:31celebrate another magical moment.
03:34This time from Victor Ikteba.
03:43Only his second international goal, but one to remember.
03:48Lovely interplay, and Ivanov left to look backwards in anguish.
03:55By a lovely sleight of foot.
04:04Contrasting reactions from the man who would be expected to do that at the other end.
04:09First strike to Nigeria.
04:12Stoichko.
04:18Pulling and pushing, and the Nigerian pre-kick.
04:38No free kick given.
04:48Adepoju.
04:50And Ikteba could be in again!
04:55Well, this time it was Kishishev who was left embarrassed.
05:01He has a delightful touch, Victor Ikteba.
05:15Kishishev who had the final effort on goal.
05:27Kishishev who had the final effort on goal.
05:33Such incisive attacking play.
05:38And all that was lacking in the finish was direction.
05:45Kistov.
05:48And for Guiljev.
05:55A rare moment of Bulgarian promise.
05:59And it's what so far has been a fairly gloomy prognosis for them in this game.
06:03Even off his forward.
06:06And Rufay's punch to Stoichko.
06:08It was a good volley.
06:11It was a very good volley.
06:14And Rufay was fortunate that in fact he was just recovering his position from where he'd fallen previously.
06:22Hepped down very well indeed.
06:28No while.
06:34Kostadinov picking it up for Bulgaria.
06:36Stoichko as ever.
06:38He's available by Agnery.
06:39This is Balikov.
06:40And Balikov could go all the way!
06:46Well, he was a fraction away.
06:52And it just goes to show that whilst Nigeria are most potent going forward.
06:58They are vulnerable at the back.
07:02West didn't really make his presence felt against Balikov.
07:27But look at the space that Okocha has.
07:35From the throw by the goalkeeper, Rufay.
07:41Jankov tracking back with him.
07:47And it told you.
07:49Okocha.
07:51Oh, beautifully done.
07:53And Stoichko did well to hang on to the low cross.
08:01Okocha has been at the centre of most of the better things that Nigeria have shown us.
08:09And back by Olisa.
08:11Okocha.
08:13George.
08:16Adepoji.
08:18Three ahead of him.
08:19Through the middle is Daniel Amakachi.
08:22And still the threat hasn't gone.
08:24It's Lawal.
08:26And now Okocha who had to strike it first time.
08:29Hit the heel of Petkov.
08:35Cleasing ebb and flow to this game at the outset of the second period.
08:39Kostadinov.
08:41Boromiro.
08:43Kostadinov for a second time.
08:45Spoilily a good word.
08:46Kostadinov.
08:58Tom Sekpana.
08:59Gennady George.
09:03Iktepa.
09:06Elliot has been pulled up for foul on George.
09:11which results in a booking
09:15really seems to be suggesting that George has made
09:18a lot of it
09:31contact with the ball
09:39no wall lined up by the Bulgarians
09:42which is dangerous when you've got players like Sunday Elyse around
09:48now they've found a couple of bricks
09:50this is Sunday Elyse
09:51one of the bricks did its job
09:55Stoichkov
09:55can't get away from Turiboe West
09:57and then launching
09:59a spectacular pass towards Kostadinov
10:03not good well by Babayaro
10:08and the build seemed to be so slippery
10:10that maybe Kostadinov's hands were
10:14when he tried to take the throw
10:19for the moment of acute embarrassment
10:23Kostadinov
10:24on his left foot
10:25and Stoichkov
10:30from the sort of distance
10:35that strikers like to operate from
10:41Kostadinov
10:42agonisingly wide
10:45whilst Nigeria overall
10:47are dominating the game
10:48Bulgaria are still getting
10:49one or two chances
10:58trip on Ivanov
11:01and a whole lot of space for Boromirov
11:05now Kostadinov
11:06Bergeri getting more men forward
11:07Balikov who always favours his left foot
11:09has won the free kick
11:13and this is in prime
11:15Christo-Stoichkov territory
11:18Adepojo and George
11:19between them committing the foul
11:28Balikov who is directly
11:30to the right of the ball
11:31but Ivanov has just arrived
11:33it's Balikov
11:38one of Bulgaria's problems
11:39is that from that sort of range
11:40they are extremely dangerous
11:42but that's the first time in the entire game
11:44that they've had a set piece
11:47within the sort of distance
11:48that they can operate from
11:53now Stoichkov will be giving Balikov an earful
11:56saying let me take it
12:04this is Karnu
12:13Stoichkov is extended
12:22and Nigeria take advantage by finding a hole at the back
12:27Lawal
12:28bit long for Yakini
12:30too long for Yakini
12:33missed it the first attempt
12:35and here's Fennidi George
12:38who should have settled the issue
12:42Stoichkov can take some credit for the save
12:44but he should have been left completely helpless
12:51she said Karnu was close again
12:55performance was not the best
12:57Lawal
12:59Karnu
13:02still going
13:03and here's Fennidi George
13:04just too far for Yakini
13:06Lawal
13:08it was cleared off the line
13:11Gincev I think was the defender that got back
13:14and if Nigeria don't win this game
13:16they've got only themselves to blame
13:20Balikov
13:23100 by 3
13:30that was Ivanov
13:32and here's Kostadinov
13:34nicely away
13:35and Kostadinov
13:36hit the underside of the bar
13:38and bounced out
13:40Tenev
13:41Boromirov
13:42but so nearly an equalising goal
13:45for Emil Kostadinov
13:47who specialises in scoring
13:49dramatic late goals
13:50at the Parc des France
13:54lovely drag back
13:55and then with the outside of the boot
13:57across the goalkeeper
13:58and off the face of the crossbar
14:03Karnu
14:05a Kostadinov
14:06a Kostadinov
14:09still a Kostadinov
14:10the ball seems to be tied to his feet at times
14:13and a Kostadinov
14:14going for the rebound as well
14:16now Yakini
14:22whilst a defeat wouldn't put Bulgaria out of the World Cup
14:26will make it very difficult for them to qualify for the second phase
14:30perhaps more importantly
14:33in the context of the competition overall
14:35victory for Nigeria
14:36will secure a place in the second round for them
14:44Boromirov
14:4522 A mat
14:46and Bakchev was the
14:50Bulgarian player who got closest to the cross
14:54went behind
14:55and Nigeria
15:00are still having to defend stoically
15:03yet another Balakov corner kick
15:09Stoichkov
15:11has hustled off it
15:12and now
15:14it's effectively two against two
15:15to Gianni Babongida
15:17in fact he's lacking support
15:19but he might not need it
15:21Stoichkov comes out
15:22and blocks
15:28and this
15:29presumably will be Bulgaria's last attack
15:31as Stoichkov launches it forward
15:33but the final whistle
15:34denies them even that chance
15:36and Nigeria
15:38to a standing ovation
15:40from around the Parc des Princes
15:41completes
15:42their second victory
15:44of the 1998 World Cup
15:47and that means
15:48that whatever the result
15:50of their final match
15:51against Paraguay
15:52in Toulouse
15:53in five days time
15:55they will take their place
15:57as they did
15:58in the USA
15:58four years ago
15:59in the second round
16:01of the World Cup
16:02JJ Okocha
16:04was their prime performer
16:06the goal scorer
16:08wasn't on the field
16:08at the end
16:09Victor Igteba
16:10who plays in France
16:11from Monaco
16:12and victory goes
16:14to the side
16:15with Victor
16:16Nigeria
16:17by one
16:18goal to nil
16:20yes Nigeria
16:21through to the last 16
16:22and Spain
16:23could move into
16:24second place
16:24in Group D
16:25if they win the match
16:26we're about to see
16:26but if they lose
16:27they will be out
16:29in Pontes
16:29in to...
16:29to the fact
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