Falconets crash out of U20 World Cup losing 0-2 to The Netherlands in the quarter final

NIGERIA'S Super Falconets have crashed out of the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup currently taking place in Cost Rica after losing 0-2 to The Netherlands in the quarter finals last night when they succumbed to two first half goals.

Despite being of the favourites to lift the trophy due to their sparkling group form which saw them win all three games, the Falconets went out with a wimp yesterday in Alajuela. They were particularly wasteful in front of goal and Flourish Sabastine, who scored Nigeria’s winning goal against France in their Group C opening match, could not make hay in the seventh minute.

Four minutes later, the Dutch were ahead when Zera Hulswit lobbed a dipping shot beyond Omini Oyono in goal for Nigeria after pulling away on the counter-attack. Nigeria then tried to mount a fightback and in the 15th minute, Sabastine again pulled away and let fly but the ball was tipped away by impressive Dutch goalkeeper Claire Dinkla.

On the half-hour mark, Nigeria nearly got the leveller that their endeavour deserved when Deborah Abiodun seized the ball as the Dutch defence fell into confusion. However, her dipping shot from 25 metres rocked the crossbar and was then tipped away from the head of Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.

Three minutes later, the Dutch doubled their lead after breaking through down the right once more. With team captain Oluwatosin Demehin and Omowumi Oshobukola at odds with each other, Ziva Henry bundled the ball past a hapless Oyono.

Substitute Joy Jerry came close to pulling one back when she headed Rofiat Imuran’s cross in the 62nd minute but the ball went harmlessly wide. In the second minute of added time, a Dutch defender handled the ball in the box as Nigeria poured forward but after consulting the Video Assistant Referee, Costa Rican official Marianela Araya overturned her decision to award a penalty kick.

The Netherlands will now meet Spain on Thursday in the first semi-final fixture, after the Spaniards beat Mexico 1-0 in the first quarter-final match. Brazil who also won 1-0 against Colombia on Saturday in the second quarter-final match await the winners of the fourth quarter-final match fixture between defending champions Japan and France.