VOLGOGRAD, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Ahmed Musa was the hero for Nigeria as he scored the two goals that gave his side a vital 2-0 win against Island in the heat of the Volgograd Arena on Friday evening.
Nigeria had been shut out by Iceland in the first half, but Musa's 49th minute volley paved the way for a much-improved second half display and means that if Nigeria can avoid defeat to Argentina in their last group game will almost certainly qualify for the last 16.
In a game that started in temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius in the Volgograd Arena, Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr brought Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Kenneth Omeruo into his side, while for Iceland, Hordur Magnusson was in for the injured Johann Gudmundsson.
Gylfi Sigurdsson twice tested Nigeria keeper Francis Uzoho in the opening five minutes, but Francis responded well to tip a free kick over the bar before making a comfortable save as Sigurdsson looked to try to curl the ball into the corner of the net.
Nigeria had more possession, but Iceland threatened from Sigurdsson's precise set pieces, while a midfield led by the combative Aron Gunnarsson was giving nothing away as Nigeria struggled for fluidity and failed to produce a single shot in the first 45 minutes.
At the other end both Alfred Finnbogason and Jon Bodvarsson were both close to a decisive touch although Uzoho also didn't have another save to make before half time.
Everything changed at the start of the second half when Ahmed Musa, who moments earlier had managed Nigeria's first shot on target, beat Hannes Halldorsson with a 49th minute volley to finish off a swift counter-attack.
With Victor Moses now a constant threat down the right, Nigeria grew in confidence after the goal and Wilfred Ndidi drew a good save from Halldorsson with a long-range shot, before Iceland had to replace Ragnar Sigurdsson, who suffered a head injury in the goal, with Sverir Ingason.
Victor Moses shot wide as Nigeria continued to find more space, although at times they rushed their shots from outside of the area and Leon Balogun twice headed wide when well-placed.
Musa hit the bar with a curling shot in the 75th minute and it looked a second Nigeria goal would come at any moment and that proved to be the case as the number 7 raced into the area and rounded Halldorsson before calming finishing into the corner of the net.
Iceland got a lifeline when the referee used the VAR to determine that Tyronne Ebuehi had brought Finnbogason down in the area in the 84th minute, but the usually reliable Sigurdsson put his penalty over the bar.
