A BLUNDER by Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama handed Greece their first victory at the fifth attempt in two World Cup finals.
It also maintains their slim hopes of an appearance in the next stage, although their final Group B game is against Argentina.
Enyeama, whose side were down to 10 men following Sani Kaita’s red card, failed to deal with a soft shot from Alexandros Tziolis in the 72nd minute. The rebound fell to Vasileios Torosidis, who toe-poked the ball home to give Greece victory.
Nigeria now face an early exit. Yet the game had started so well for them. They took the lead after 16 minutes following a defensive howler by their opponents.
Greece failed to cut out an inswinging free-kick from Kalu Uche and goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas was left rooted to the spot as the ball nestled in the net behind him.
It was an early setback for Greece following their opening-day defeat by South Korea.
They responded 13 minutes later when captain Georgios Karagounis tried to chip Enyeama from distance but the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save.
Then Karagounis floated in a corner only for Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos to send his header high over the bar.
The match took a dramatic twist in the 34th minute when Nigeria were reduced to 10 men.
Kaita was handed a straight red card by referee Oscar Ruiz following a tussle with Torosidis. Kaita showed his studs to the defender and was immediately banished to the dressingroom.
Greece stepped up the pace and substitute Geogios Samaras then saw his effort cleared off the line by Lukman Haruna.
Nigeria were finally breached a minute before the break when Salpingidis scored the equaliser, his effort deflecting off a defender after Konstantinos Katsouranis had played the ball into his path.
It was a historic moment for Greece – their first goal in the finals. There were a number of missed chances for both sides before the mistake by the Nigerian goalke eper provided the winner.
GREECE: Tzorvas, Kyrgiakos, Vyntra, Papadopoulos, Torosidis, Tziolis, Papastathopoulos (Samaras 36), Katsouranis, Karagounis, Gekas (Ninis 79), Salpingidis. Subs Not Used: Chalkias, Seitaridis, Patsatzoglou, Spyropoulos, Moras, Charisteas, Kapetanos, Malezas, Prittas, Sifakis. Booked: Papastathopoulos, Tziolis, Samaras. Goals: Salpingidis 44, Torosidis 71.
NIGERIA: Enyeama, Odiah, Yobo, Shittu, Taiwo (Echiejile 55), Kaita, Etuhu, Haruna, Uche, Yakubu, Odemwingie (Obasi Ogbuke 46), Echiejile (Afolabi 77). Subs Not Used: Ejide, Kanu, Utaka, Martins, Ideye, Yussuf, Obinna, Adeleye, Aiyenugbu. Sent Off: Kaita (33). Booked: Obasi Ogbuke. Goal: Uche 16.
Attendance: 31,593.
Referee: Julian Oscar Ruiz Acosta (Colombia).
