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Nigeria end Ireland's home run

DUBLIN, Republic of Ireland -- Nigeria defied an Irish onslaught to win 2-1 in Dublin and end Mick McCarthy's team's two-year unbeaten home record.

Ireland dominated for much of Thursday night's World Cup warm-up but missed chances, leaving McCarthy to say: "We could have had five or six goals."

MORE STORIES • Irish put faith in Mick's men

Captain Jay Jay Okocha set up striker Julius Aghahowa to put Nigeria ahead on 13 minutes and Efe Sodje added a second two minutes into the second half, heading in a corner as keeper Irish keeper Shay Given and captain Roy Keane hesitated.

Substitute Stephen Reid crashed a shot past Nigeria's keeper Ike Shorunmu to bring Ireland back into the game on 69 minutes.

It was a rare defeat for McCarthy, whose team play Germany, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia in World Cup Group E. "I just said to the players I hate losing," he said.

Irish centre-back Steve Staunton added: "That was their best 11 and they're a good side. But we know we should have beaten them here."

Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who took over after the end of the African Cup of Nations in February, is holding off naming his World Cup squad. "I have until May 21 to submit my list and I don't think I have any reason not to utilise every hour of that deadline," he said.

Nigeria are in Group F, labelled "the group of death," with Argentina, England and Sweden.

In another World Cup warm-up on Thursday, Uruguay won 2-0 in China.

Ireland Shay Given, Steve Finnan, Kenny Cunningham, Steve Staunton, Ian Harte, Jason McAteer (Stephen Reid, 46), Matt Holland, Roy Keane (Mark Kinsella, 63), Kevin Kilbane (Gary Kelly, 61), Damien Duff (David Connolly, 61), Robbie Keane (Clinton Morrison, 61).

Nigeria Ike Shorunmu, Efe Sodje, Taribo West, Isaac Okoronkwo, Joseph Yobo, Pius Ikedia, Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha (Wilson Oruma, 66), Kwankwo Kanu, Femi Opabunmi, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Julius Aghahowa.