FIFA U-20 Women World Cup: Nigeria Pip South Korea 1-0, Bag Q-Finals Ticket

• Play Canada in last Group C tie on Thursday

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – An 83rd-minute goal by Esther Onyenezide wall all Nigeria’s Falconets needed to grab a quarter-final berth as they beat South Korea 1-0 at the ongoing 10th FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Costa Rica

With six points in their kitty, the under-20 women’s national team, tutored by Coach Chris Danjuma, are now top of Group C after emerging victorious in their second group game played on Sunday night.

Eyeing a quarter-finals ticket inside the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela, the Koreans came into this game boasting of the 2-0 dusting of Canada in their first match while the Falconets recorded a 1-0 victory over European champions France.

The match was delayed for about an hour following the heavy downpour as the tournament’s organisers battled to make the pitch playable by soaking up the water. And just like their first outing against France, the Nigerians found it difficult to break the South Korean defence despite their impressive play in the first 45 minutes.

On resumption of play in the second half, Esther Onyenezide’s fierce shot in the 54th minute was dutifully parried by Yoonji Do while Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Oyono Omini, was called to action in the 64th minute when she stopped the Koreans from going ahead pushing to safety a 20–meters belter from Eunyoung Lee.

However, the game dragged on with little to choose between both sides until midfielder Onyenezide broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute when her shot curled past Keeper Do and the Falconets dazzled the sparse crowd at the stadium dancing to the hit song Buga by Kizz Daniel in celebrating the goal.

With Korea’s Hayeon Mu missing from a corner kick and Garam Chun hitting the upright from a free kick, the Nigerians kept things tight at the back and in midfield where Mercy Idoko, Onyenezide, and Bashirat Amoo were outstanding and tireless in their work rate.

The referee’s final whistle saw the Falconets holding their heads high with all three points and booking a last 16 place with two wins from two matches. They will now confront Canada in their final Group C match slated for Thursday, August 18, 2022.