Nigeria’s Falconets beat Canada 3-1 to secure all nine points in Group C at the ongoing FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
Two converted spot kicks from Esther Onyenezide, after Canada had taken the lead, and another goal substitute Chioma Olise, earned the Falconets their third win of the tournament in the match played in the early hours of Thursday.
Canada got off to a perfect start as they took the lead in the fourth minute after their player Kaila Novak’s outstretched leg intercepted Falconets keeper Omini Oyono’s poor pass to her defender.
But the Falconets recovered to take then control of the game after the early setback and almost drew level on 15 minutes but Chiamaka Okwuchukwu’s header off a cross from Rofiat Imuran narrowly missed the target.
In the 24th minute the Falconets’ pressure finally paid off thanks to Esther Onyenezide, who converted from the penalty spot after a Canadian player stopped a goal bound shot with her hand.
Onyenezide doubled the Falconets’ lead again from the penalty spot on 32 minutes following a foul on Mercy Idoko.
With seconds left in the added time Deborah Abiodun then hit a long range effort which the Canadian keeper palmed over the bar.
The Falconets continued where they left off in the first half as they continued to pile more pressure in the second 45 minutes.
Their early positive start almost yielded results on 56 minutes through Onyenezide but her long range left foot strike was well saved.
On the hour mark Okwuchukwu had a great chance to extend the Falconets’ lead but failed to direct her header from Onyenezide’s cross towards goal.
In the 66th minute Falconets keeper Oyono was called to action as she got down well to palmed away a low shot.
With 10 minutes left Abiodun tried a left foot curler just outside the box but the Canadian keeper was well positioned to claim the ball.
In the 91st minute Olise added the third goal as she arrived at the back post to slot of a low cross from the left by Imuran.
Falconets will take on The Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
