Title favorites Netherlands and Nigeria drew 0-0 in their Group B match of the Olympic men's soccer tournament?in Tianjin?on Thursday.
"I am very glad we didn't lose the game," Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said. "We had a lot of chances to score, and next game we have to do more and more."
Netherlands coach Foppe De Haan said: "Nigeria are a good team and we have time to grow in this tournament. A draw is not a disaster."
De haan said veteran striker Roy Makaay will miss next game for injury. "He has a foot injury. He won't be ready for the next game. He might be all right for the last game but I don't know."
Looking ahead the next games against Japan and the United States, De Haan said: "I think the U.S. and Japan don't have the level of Nigeria."
Netherlands started with their traditional 4-4-2 formation. Coach Foppe de Haan sent on two over-aged players -- striker Makaay and defender Kew Jaliens.
Makaay had a fantastic volley shot in the box just nine minutes after start, which was blocked by the crossbar.
Just before the end of the first half, Dutch goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer pushed away Nigerian striker Victor Obinna's powerful long shot with an excellent save.
Dutch midfielder Jonathan De Guzman displayed his skill on free kicks, but his two kicks in each half were saved by Nigerian goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin.
Nigeria dominated the last 20 minutes and created a few scoring chances. Substitute striker Chinedu Ogbuke had two powerful long-range shots saved by goalkeeper Vermeer in injury time.
Ogbuke said: "We try to defeat Netherlands with our technique. Next game we just have to score."
The Netherlands' starting lineup included some young talents, who are already competing at the top level in Europe, such as Liverpool's Ryan Babel and Valencia's Hedwiges Maduro.
On the Nigeria side, striker Peter Odemwingie, playing with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, is the only over-aged player in the squad.
Nigeria, who famously claimed gold in 1996, aimed to repeat the remarkable feat while the Dutch, three-time Olympic bronze medalists, have made clear their ambition to enter uncharted territory.
In the second round of Group B, the Netherlands will take on the United States on Aug. 10 and Nigeria will face Japan. The United States beat Japan 1-0 earlier on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)