Nigeria’s Falconets struggle into World Cup semi

Nigeria’s Under 20 Female team, the Falconets, have qualified for the semi-final of the FIFA world cup taking place in Japan.
They defeated Mexico 1-0 in the quarter final of Japan 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and progressed to the semi final stage of the competition.
The Edwin Okon-tutored side scored the only goal of the pulsating match in the 109th minute through Desire Oparanozie, who nodded the back breaking winner beyond goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Nigeria held on to the slim scoreline despite the last minute pressure from a resilient Mexican side, who dictated the pace towards the end of the encounter in Tokyo.
The Falconets, losing finalists in Germany two years ago, were dominant from the first half, but were unable to make the breakthrough on the score sheet until Oparanozie’s decisive goal.
The Gloria Ofoegbu-captained Falconets made much of the early runs and appeared to have a crucial early goal as Francisca Ordega’s shot deflected past goalkeeper Santiago on the quarter-hour, only for the offside flag to be raised for an earlier infringement.
Almost immediately Oparanozie forced Santiago into a sprawling save, as Nigeria looked to turn the screws in the late afternoon heat in Japan.
With far more possession in the midfield, Nigeria were inching their way closer to breaking the deadlock and Oparanozie rattled the crossbar with her shot eight minutes before the interval.
The always dangerous Sofia Huerta, scorer of three goals in the tournament, made a rare incursion into Nigeria’s penalty area just before the break, to provide some impetus for the Mexicans.
However, the one-way traffic continued immediately upon the resumption, much to the delight of a large and buoyant group of Nigeria supporters, whose tunes and singing resonated around the National Stadium throughout the match.
Approaching the hour mark Santiago again thwarted the Africans with an important block from Gloria Ofoegbu’s effort, again, a few minutes later from Oparanozie.
Mexico slowly started to make an impression and enjoyed a rare sight of goal midway through the second half, only for inspirational skipper Nayeli Rangel to push her back-post header narrowly over.
Nigeria’s midfield play became less cohesive and Mexico could have won it in injury time as a corner kick looped onto the crossbar.
A fairly disjointed period of extra time was enlivened only on a few occasions, notably by Mexico’s Yamile Franco hitting the bar with an angled free-kick.
With the match starting to swing back Mexico’s way, it was Nigeria who conjured a winner, with Oparanozie looping a perfectly executed header from Ugo Njoku’s cross over a stranded Santiago.
Nigeria will now await the winner of the tie between North Korea and USA before they know who they would be playing in the Semi Final.
PM News