U20 WWC Germany 3 Nigeria 1:  Okwuchukwu goal in vain as Falconets beaten by three-time champions

The Falconets lost 3-1 to three-time champions Germany in the second matchday of the Fifa U20 Women's World Cup at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo on Thursday morning.

 Germany started the game on the front foot but were unable to punish Nigeria's slow start.

The Falconets created their first big chance of the game in the 11th minute against the run of play with Rofiat Imuran finding herself in a good position but couldn't square up Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.

Germany took the lead in the 17th minute through Alara Sehitler's bullet header from Cora Zicai's well-delivered pass. 

The Falconets had the chance to restore parity immediately through Okwuchukwu but her effort was comfortably saved by the German goalkeeper, Rebecca Adamczyk.

Germany could have doubled their lead in the 28th minute when a dangerous cross was delivered into the penalty area for Marie Steiner, who couldn't convert.

The Falconets went to the other hand to search for a leveler but a hefty low cross into the area prevented Okwuchukwu from having an attempt on goal.

Sehitler got a golden opportunity in the 36th minute at the far post to bag a brace but amazingly couldn't hit the target.

Five minutes before the stroke of half-time,  Jumoke Alani tried setting up Okwuchukwu with a cross but the latter couldn't connect to the pass.

Two minutes into the first half stoppages, Imuran was put through on goal but she agonisingly hit her effort towards Adamczyk.

Okwuchukwu put Nigeria back on level terms in the 50th minute when Adamczyk couldn't control a back pass from Jella Veit and the young forward was at alert to put the ball home.

A minute after the hour mark, Germany restored the lead through Sofie Lena Zdebel who put Zicai's pass beyond the reach of Shukurat Bakare.

Okwuchukwu came to restoring parity for Christopher Danjuma's ladies but her effort was ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee for an offside.

Zicai could have given the European side a two-goal cushion when she received a cross in the penalty area but couldn't direct her effort towards goal.

Substitute Mary Osigwe almost set up Okwuchukwu for the equaliser in the 82nd minute but the latter's effort wasn't enough to beat Adamczyk.

Alani almost scored an own goal late on in the game when Bakare misjudged Zicai's cross and the right back header sailed over the cross barm.

Sarah Ernst finally put the game beyond the reach of the Falconets in the stoppage time with a fine header into the back of the net.

Germany have now secured qualification for the next round with a game to spare while Nigeria need to avoid a defeat in the last group fixture against Venezuela to boost their chances of qualifying to the next round.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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