Getting ready for the World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia comes in different ways for Nigerian players. On Sunday, Victor Moses celebrated his 100th English Premier League appearance with the match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. It was a superb outing for the Super Eagles attacker as his team Liverpool defeated their hosts 3-1 to move up to the second spot of the league table.
He wrote via his Twitter handle, “Buzzin with the win great result the lads were brilliant.”
Moses has been called up by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for the October 13 match inAddis Ababa in search of a Brazil 2014 World Cup ticket.
But the match was not just for the Nigerian as Luis Suarez crowned his Premier League return with a brace.
Having completed a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season, Suarez scored in each half at the Stadium of Light as Liverpool ended a run of three games without victory.
Daniel Sturridge had given Liverpool the lead with his fifth goal of the season, with Emanuele Giaccherini replying for Sunderland early in the second half after Suarez had made it 2-0.
It was Sunderland’s first league game since the dismissal of manager Paolo Di Canio, but although they are now four points from safety, interim coach Kevin Ball will have been heartened by their second-half reaction.
Both sides threatened from early set-pieces, Keiren Westwood denying Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Sebastian Larsson rattling the visitors’ bar, before the away side went ahead in contentious circumstances in the 28th minute.
A left-wing corner found Sturridge unmarked at the back post and although he shaped to head the ball, it actually struck his elbow before bouncing over the line.
Sunderland’s defenders did not appeal, however, and eight minutes later Sturridge’s teasing low cross from the right allowed Suarez to slide home his first goal since completing his suspension.
The Uruguayan celebrated by lifting his jersey to reveal a T-shirt bearing a picture of his family with his new-born son Benjamin, who was born on Thursday. Moses son Brentley celebrated his first birthday last Friday.
The hosts were quick to react though, and after former Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had saved with his feet from Craig Gardner and Adam Johnson had shot narrowly over, they drew level in the 52nd minute.
Mignolet could only parry a low drive by Ki Sung-yueng and Giaccherini swept the loose ball home with his left foot to reduce the arrears.
There were chances for both teams, Mignolet denying Gardner again, while Westwood saved from Victor Moses and Kolo Toure, before Suarez tucked in his second goal from another Sturridge cross in the 89th minute.