A first for Greece

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP):

Greece earned their first World Cup win yesterday, coming from behind to beat 10-man Nigeria 2-1 in Group B.

Vassilis Torosidis scored the winning goal in the 71st minute after a mistake from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to make history for Greece, who had lost all four of their previous World Cup matches.

Enyeama fumbled a low shot from Alexandros Tziolis and Torosidis pounced on the loose ball for the crucial goal.

"Of course, it would have been a shame to return to Greece without a win and without a point so I'm very happy with this result," Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said. "We did concede a goal, but we were able to stand up against it and we were able to get the game under control."

Nigeria had taken the lead in the 16th minute at Free State Stadium when Kalu Uche's curling free kick from 35 metres deceived everyone and dropped into the corner of the Greece net.

But the game changed in the 33rd when Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita was shown a straight red card for kicking Torosidis on the touchline.

Deflected

Dimitris Salpingidis equalised in the 44th with a shot that deflected off Lukman Haruna and left Enyeama with no chance.

"I think the sending off played a big part in the game," Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo said. "We were controlling the game before the sending off.

"It looks like even if we win the next one we're not going to qualify, so practically we are out of the tournament," he said.

Greece and Nigeria both made changes to their line-ups after opening game losses left both in desperate need of a victory to kick-start their campaigns.

"We badly wanted this, because we'd never even scored a goal in the World Cup before," Salpingidis said. "I can't say whether we'll make it out the group. But I can say that we'll leave with our heads held high."

Nigeria broke through first when Uche's free kick sailed over the heads of Costas Katsouranis and Peter Odemwingie and into the far corner of the net - with Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas completely confused.

Odemwingie, who had won the free kick, appeared to pull his head out of the way to allow Uche's effort to carry on toward the Greece goal.

But with Nigeria in control, Kaita's moment of madness handed Greece its best chance of breaking its World Cup losing streak.