Bala Nkiyu’s girls survived an early scare by the South Americans to
reach the last eight of the 2014 Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup holding in
Costa Rica
Nigeria came from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 in their second
game of the Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup played at the Estadio Alejandro
Morera in Alajuela on Thursday morning.
Goals from Joy Bokiri and Uchenna Kanu propelled the Flamingoes to
victory after the Colombians had taken the lead in the third minute
through Angie Rodriguez.
Fabian Tarborda’s girls needed a win against the Africans to stand
any chance of progressing to the last eight of the competition after
losing 4-0 to Mexico in their first game. They did not disappoint as
they raced into the lead three minutes after kick off.
Nancy Acosta's well tailored cross reached Rodriguez who headed past a trapped goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke for the curtain raiser.
Knowing the imminent danger ahead, the Flamingoes stepped up their
game and dominated every department of the match and soon got the
deserved equaliser in the 26th minute with Bokiri curling in a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.
Nkiyu’s girls could have doubled their lead few minutes later but Ihuoma Onyebuchi’s effort from distance rattled the opponents' crossbar. Nigeria continued to dominate but their major undoing was poor finishing coupled with master saves by Colombia’s goalkeeper Monica Florez who was superb in goal for the South Americans.
Nkiyu’s girls could have doubled their lead few minutes later but Ihuoma Onyebuchi’s effort from distance rattled the opponents' crossbar. Nigeria continued to dominate but their major undoing was poor finishing coupled with master saves by Colombia’s goalkeeper Monica Florez who was superb in goal for the South Americans.
Kanu ensured Nigeria secured maximum points when her
strike 14 minutes into the second half condemned the Colombians to
their second defeat of the competition.
Despite posting a five-star performance, the duo of Ihuoma Onyebuchi
and Ayomide Anibaba were cautioned by referee Mirian Leon of Slovenia
and must avoid being booked again in Nigeria’s last group game else they
will miss the quarter final.
Nigeria face Mexico to fight for top place in the group in their last
group game scheduled for Monday 3am (Nigeria time) at the Estadio
Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose. The Mexicans had earlier in the day
spanked China PR 4-0 to reach the quarter final of the competition.
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