Nigeria Exit World Cup With Reputation Intact, Beat Spain 2-1 As Ihezuo Grabs The Headlines
It was certainly their best performance of the tournament, but it happened that they left it too late, and Nigeria’s Falconets’ 2-1 win over Spain on Sunday failed to take them past the group stage of the 8th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals. <br /><br />They needed to win and for Japan not to win in the other Group B match, but the Asians steamrolled their Canadian opponents 5-0 just across the city in Port Moresby, meaning the Nigerian girls would be heading home instead of heading into the quarter finals after wins over Canada and Spain.<br /><br /> Spain, who walloped Canada 5-0 before defeating Japan 1-0, were ahead after only six minutes when Alba Redondo slotted past goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke as the European vice champions swept into Nigeria’s vital area.<br /><br />However, Nigeria drew level six minutes later, Ihuoma Onyebuchi cashing in on an opportunity in a goalmouth scramble from a corner kick.<br /><br />In the second half, substitute Yetunde Adeboyejo should have scored when put through on goal by the intelligent Rasheedat Ajibade, but she failed to measure her angle well.<br /><br />Stand –in captain Chiwendu Ihezuo raced onto another intelligent Ajibade pass and past two defenders to score the winner in the 72nd minute.<br /><br />Substitute Aminat Yakubu should have scored a third goal for Nigeria, but failed with only the goalkeeper to beat, as the Nigerians made life difficult for the Spaniards with long balls.<br /><br />Six minutes to the end, Nigerian defender Glory Ogbonna was sent off after a second bookable offense.<br /><br />Although they finished with six points, same as Japan, Nigeria had a deficit of three goals while the Japanese had 10 goals to their advantage.<br /><br />In the end, the Falconets would look back at their opening match against the Japanese (in which they performed poorly and lost 0-6) and wish they had played the Asians the way they played the Canadians and the Spaniards.<br /><br /> Nigerian forward Ihezuo was selected as Live Your Goals Player of the Match.<br /><br />Igho Kingsley <br /><br />Photo Credit : fifa.com<br />
Discussions (0)