Promise Isaac and Victor Obinna struck to earn Nigeria a 2-1 victory over the United States, taking the Africans through to the quarterfinals – as Group B winners – at the expense of the Americans.

Sacha Kljestan’s late penalty proved to be no more than a consolation goal for the US, who had to play virtually the entire match a man down following defender Michael Orozco’s 3^rd minute red card.

Victor Obinna scored the decisive goal for Nigeria

The Netherlands claimed the other quarterfinal slot in the group with a 1-0 win over Japan, Gerald Sibon securing the points from the spot.

In other results, Brazil (Group C) and Argentina (Group A) both made it 3 wins in 3, with wins over host nation China (3-0) and Serbia (2-0) respectively. Belgium claimed the second quarterfinal spot in Group C with a 1-0 triumph over New Zealand, while the Ivory Coast booked qualification behind Argentina by edging Australia 1-0.

Italy and Cameroon played to a goalless draw in Group D, a result which saw the Africans through to the next round alongside the already qualified Italians – and rendered South Korea’s 1-0 win over Honduras academic.

Results - Day 3

Group A

Argentina 2 (Lavezzi pen 13, Buonanotte 84), Serbia 0

Ivory Coast 1 (Kalou 81), Australia 0

Group B

Nigeria 2 (Isaac 39, Obinna 79), United States 1 (Kljestan pen 88),

Netherlands 1 (Sibon pen 13), Japan 0

Group C

China 0, Brazil 3 (Diego 18, Thiago Neves 69, 73)

New Zealand 0, Belgium 1 (Haroun 35)

Group D

Cameroon 0, Italy 0

South Korea 1 (Dong-jin 23), Honduras 0