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World Cup qualifying: Late burst keeps Nigeria's World Cup hopes alive [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Oran, Algeria (Reuters) - Three goals in the last eight minutes ensured Nigeria kept alive their chances of World Cup qualification with a 5-2 away win over Algeria.
Nigeria joined Angola on 18 points at the head of the African qualifying zone Group Four standings.
Obefemi Martins scored twice and set up another for Nigeria, playing without injured captain Jay-Jay Okocha and leaving Middlesborough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni on the bench.
Martins opened the scoring with a 19th-minute penalty before John Utaka added a second in the 41st minute with an easy header from close range.
Utaka was sent off early in the second half for retaliation, just minutes after Hamza Yacef hauled a goal back for the home side.
Algeria striker Mansour Boutabout cracked in a long-range equaliser to give hope to the home supporters midway through the second half.
But Nigeria saved their best for the closing minutes, as Nwankwo Kanu made an immediate impact after coming on as a late substitute.
First Martins netted from close range in the 82nd minute and then Italian-based midfielder Stephen Makinwa made it 4-2, as he slid home the ball when Algerian goalkeeper Mohamed Hicham Mezair spilt a shot from Nigeria's stand-in skipper Joseph Yobo.
The final goal came in the 89th minute as Christian Obodo finished off a sweeping move initiated by Martins.
Nigeria host Zimbabwe in their final group match on October 8, but will miss out on the World Cup finals if Angola win away in Rwanda on the same day.
Angola have the advantage over Nigeria in their head-to-head results in the group.
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