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Nigeria beat Colombia 2-1 to book quarter final ticket

Published

11 years ago

March 20, 2014

Nigeria scored a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over a gallant
Colombia to earn a quarter-final berth alongside Mexico and at the
same time end the hopes of the South Americans.
Needing all three points to stay alive in Group D, Colombia burst out
of the blocks with a third minute goal as Angie Rodriguez looped a
header from a perfect Nancy Acosta cross over the head of stranded
goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke.
Nigeria drew level just past the midway point of the opening half with
Joy Bokiri curling in a perfectly flighted free-kick from the edge of
the penalty area.
Nigeria took the lead for the first time approaching the hour mark as
some sloppy marking from a corner allowed the tall figure of Uchenna
Kanu to nod the ball in unchallenged at the back post.
Midfielder Ihuoma Onyebuchi then rattled the Colombia crossbar
with a first time strike from distance with the South Americans
increasingly on the back foot.
Colombia goalkeeper Monica Florez memorably pulled off four
successive blocks during one almighty goalmouth scramble as they
desperately hung on.
The win leaves Nigeria sharing top spot with Mexico, while
Colombia will now tackle China PR with each seeking their maiden
points of the competition.