Super Flamingos' heroic U17 World Cup bid ends as they fall to Spain in quarter final

Super Flamingos' heroic U17 World Cup bid ends as they fall to Spain in quarter final

Posted by Sylvester on Friday, March 28, 2014 0

Sponsored Advertisement?

NIGERIA'S Super Flamingos' gallant pursuit of the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup came to a heroic end last night after the team was knocked out in the quarter finals of the competition by Spain who beat them 3-0.

Despite putting up a gallant and brave fight, the Flamingos were overran by a strong Spanish side that struck once in the first half and twice in the second stanza. Spain will now face Italy in the semi-final after they too beat African opposition, seeing off Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Yesterday's defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria in this tournament dating back to 2012 and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. It also means that there will be no African team in the semi final as the other tie will be played between Japan and Venezuela, who eliminated Mexico and Canada respectively.

During the first half of yesterday's game in the Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño in the north western Costa Rican city of Liberia, the contest was played at a good tempo. Immediately after New Zealand referee Anna-Marie Keighley got proceedings going, both sides attacked in what was an end-to-end game but it was the Spaniard who were lucky to break the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was alleged to have tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed, forcing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Patri Guijarro made no mistake from the resultant kick, beating goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke with a drive down low to her right.

Despite mounting several attacks of their own, the Flamingos did not get behind the Spanish defence enough and failed to give goalkeeper Elena De Toro enough to worry about. At the break though, the Spanish were only a goal up and both sides came in the second half knowing that the next goal was crucial.

Fortunately for the Spanish, it was they who scored what was arguably the most important goal in the match when Nahikari Garcia found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Dominguez, who was proving to be the danger woman, set up Garcia this time with a through pass which she slotted home after an error of judgement by goalkeeper Okeke who came off her line unnecessarily.

After that, the Flamingos had a few more attempts on goal but appeared to have lost the spirit which they displayed in the second half. In the 71st minute, the game was effectively ended when a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez slipped through the hands of Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.

NIGERIA'S Super Flamingos' gallant pursuit of the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup came to a heroic end last night after the team was knocked out in the quarter finals of the competition by Spain who beat them 3-0.

Despite putting up a gallant and brave fight, the Flamingos were overran by a strong Spanish side that struck once in the first half and twice in the second stanza. Spain will now face Italy in the semi-final after they too beat African opposition, seeing off Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Yesterday's defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria in this tournament dating back to 2012 and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. It also means that there will be no African team in the semi final as the other tie will be played between Japan and Venezuela, who eliminated Mexico and Canada respectively.

During the first half of yesterday's game in the Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño in the north western Costa Rican city of Liberia, the contest was played at a good tempo. Immediately after New Zealand referee Anna-Marie Keighley got proceedings going, both sides attacked in what was an end-to-end game but it was the Spaniard who were lucky to break the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was alleged to have tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed, forcing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Patri Guijarro made no mistake from the resultant kick, beating goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke with a drive down low to her right.

Despite mounting several attacks of their own, the Flamingos did not get behind the Spanish defence enough and failed to give goalkeeper Elena De Toro enough to worry about. At the break though, the Spanish were only a goal up and both sides came in the second half knowing that the next goal was crucial.

Fortunately for the Spanish, it was they who scored what was arguably the most important goal in the match when Nahikari Garcia found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Dominguez, who was proving to be the danger woman, set up Garcia this time with a through pass which she slotted home after an error of judgement by goalkeeper Okeke who came off her line unnecessarily.

After that, the Flamingos had a few more attempts on goal but appeared to have lost the spirit which they displayed in the second half. In the 71st minute, the game was effectively ended when a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez slipped through the hands of Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4147-super-flamingos-heroic-u17-world-cup-bid-ends-as-they-fall-to-spain-in-quarter-final#sthash.GHx8SuWB.dpuf