Greece record historic World Cup win

     

Greece came back from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the World Cup on Thursday after the African team had to play with 10 men for almost two thirds of the Group B game.

Otto Rehhagel's men beat ten-man Nigerians to record their first ever victory at the finals.

It also kept their World Cup dreams alive in a match that hinged on a first half red card for the African team.

The Euro 2004 champions - who had lost all three matches in the 1994 finals and then to South Korea in their opening group match here - knew that defeat would end their hopes in South Africa and fell behind early on.

Greece had also gone through all four of their previous World Cup games without scoring.

Image: Greece's players celebrate at the end of a 2010 World Cup Group B soccer match against Nigeria in Bloemfontein
Photographs: Reuters