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Nigeria beat China 2-1, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Championship

Published

11 years ago

March 17, 2014

Fan Yuqiu scored midway through the second half to cut Nigeria’s
lead in half as China PR began to mount a comeback, but
Onyinyechukwu Okeke performed admirably in goal for Nigeria as
the African’s back line held on to a 2-1 win in their first Group D
encounter at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Costa
Rica.
Nigeria took the lead in the 21st-minute when Uchenna Kanu was
the first to get an in-swinging corner kick but Peng Shimeng made a
good initial save only to give up a rebound that fell to Rasheedat
Ajibade, who made no mistake and broke the deadlock with an
emphatic strike.
China were able to break into Nigeria’s final third but Okeke was
rarely tested. At the beginning of the second half the Africans looked to
be the stronger side yet again, and in the 63rd minute their lead was
doubled courtesy of a powerful header from Kanu.
Only a minute later, however, China found their way back into the
game when captain Fan Yugiu calmly finished Yan Liu’s cross. The
Chinese continued to press for an equaliser during the final 25 minutes
but the Nigerian backline held firm. In a delightful display of respect
and sportsmanship, the Chinese team bowed to the Nigerian bench
after the final whistle blew.
China will look to earn their first points in Group D when they face
Mexico on Wednesday, while Nigeria will look to secure a firm
grasp atop the group when they take on Colombia.
Player of the match: Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria)