Dutch captain suffers possible injury in draw against Nigeria

(BEIJING, August 7) -- Nigeria and the Netherlands played out a 0-0 draw in their opening Group B game in Tianjin on Thursday.

Neither side will be happy but the Netherlands will be the more concerned after captain Roy Makaay failed to appear in the second half because of a possible injury and midfielder Evander Sno was sent off in the 92nd minute and now faces a suspension.

In the first Olympic match between the two sides, Makaay provided the highlight of the first half when he crashed a scissor kick into the crossbar to the delight of a crowd of 52,490.

The Dutch looked to apply pressure down the flanks using the pace of Liverpool winger Ryan Babel and Feyernoord's Jonathan De Guzman.

De Guzman's pace, in particular, caused problems for Nigeria, and Olubayo Adefemi was given a yellow card for holding him back.

The Netherlands maintained the pressure in the second half but created few clear-cut chances.

With Nigerian looking lethargic, its coach Samson Siasia replaced his forward pairing with Bundesliga-based Chinedu Ogbuke and Everton's Victor Anichebe, though the switch failed to increase Nigeria's goal-scoring potential.

There was late drama when the Netherlands' Sno went over the top of the ball in a challenge on Emmanuel Ekpo and received a red card.

The Netherlands' next game in Group B is against early group leaders the United States, with Nigeria up against pointless Japan. Both games will be played in Tianjin on Sunday, August 10.