Nigeria’s Falconets are through to the quarter finals after defeating England 2-1 Wednesday night (early (Thursday) in Africa, in their last Group C match of the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup holding in Canada.
Nikita Parris opened scoring for the English ladies barely five minutes into the match, but the Nigerians came back strongly with Lovet Ayila’s equaliser in the 41st minute.
Asisat Oshoala won the encounter for Nigeria with a spot kick in the 59th minute, as the African representatives advance from the group as leaders with 7 points to set up a last eight clash with New Zealand.
Also, fellow group foes, Korea Republic have set up a quarter-final showdown with France after qualifying from Group C with a 2-1 win over Mexico at Toronto’s National Soccer Stadium. Korea finished second in the group with 4 points.
Lee Geummin and Lee Sodam scored the all-important goals as the Asian champions climbed off the foot of the table to leapfrog both their opponents and England to finish as runners-up to Nigeria.
Mexico, for whom Tanya Samarzich scored an excellent consolation, had begun the better of the two teams, with Fabiola Ibarra providing the game’s first effort with a long-range shot that Min Yukyeong did well to save.
Poor passing plagued both sides in the first half and, frustrated by the lack of clear-cut chances, El Tri’s Luz Duarte tried her luck with a long-range effort that sailed harmlessly over from 30 yards.