News Sports Soccer Greece, Nigeria tune up with 0-0 draw

Greece, Nigeria tune up with 0-0 draw

Chester, Pa.: Greece and Nigeria played a scoreless draw in a pre-World Cup friendly Tuesday night at the home of the MLS Philadelphia Union.   There were few scoring chances in one of the final tuneups

greece nigeria tune up with 0 0 draw greece nigeria tune up with 0 0 draw
Chester, Pa.: Greece and Nigeria played a scoreless draw in a pre-World Cup friendly Tuesday night at the home of the MLS Philadelphia Union.
   


There were few scoring chances in one of the final tuneups for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which begins June 12. The best opportunity came for Greece in the 83rd minute when Giorgios Samaras had a shot blocked from 10 yards and Dimitris Salpingidis followed with a header that missed.
   
Nigeria countered in the 87th minute when Ogenyi Onazi fired a shot from 25 yards that was saved by goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino.
   
Greece midfielder Giorgos Karagounis, its 37-year-old captain, played the entire first half, much to the delight of the large contingent of Greek fans in the stadium donning his No. 10 jersey.
   
For Greece, it was the second of three exhibition games over a six-day span, so a number of starters were given extra rest. The series of games started with a scoreless draw against Portugal on Saturday, and will end Friday against Bolivia at Harrison, N.J.
   
Nigeria played a 2-2 draw against Scotland last week and traveled here for this final World Cup friendly.
   
Greece will be in Group C at the World Cup along with Colombia, Ivory Coast and Japan.
   
Nigeria will be headed to Group F with Iran, Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina.