By Andrew Downie
RIO DE JANEIRO Aug 20 (Reuters) - Nigeria
won the bronze medal in men's football on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over
Honduras.
A sparse crowd in the Belo
Horizonte stadium saw the Central Americans launch a late comeback but it was
not enough to cut the deficit after Nigeria went 3-0 went up in 56 minutes.
Sadiq Umar got the first goal
after 34 minutes and his namesake Aminu Umar doubled their lead two minutes
into the second half.
Sadiq Umar scored his second
and Nigeria's third seven minutes later when he controlled another good pass
from their captain John Obi Mikel and hammered home from 15 yards (13.7m).
The goal appeared to have
guaranteed victory but Honduras came back into the game and threated to win
their first Olympic football medal.
Antony Lozano got one back
after 70 minutes when he headed home a cross from the right and then four
minutes from time Marcelo Pereira rose among a pack of players to nod home a
free kick.
But it was not quite enough
and the Nigerians secured their first medal of the Rio games. Brazil take on
Germany in the gold medal match later on Saturday.
(Editing by Nina Chestney)
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