By Jennifer Amarachi
Flourish Sabastine scored a late goal to give Nigeria’s Falconets a victory over Korea Republic at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia early Monday.
In a game with numerous possibilities to score goals, it was the Nigerian ladies who capitalized on them deep into stoppage time at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota.
If Mary Lucky Mkpa had been more precise, she could have finished the morning with a brace.
The Asians nearly drew the first blood on the quarter-hour mark, despite the Falconets’ early promise, but Shukurat Oladipo got one foot to an enticing cross from the right.
When Shukurat Bakare, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, fumbled a pull-out in the 28th minute, the South Korean forward could only sky it instead of giving up a goal.
After a wonderful pass from Rofiat Imuran, Mkpa had an opportunity of her own but smacked the ball a little too high.
Just before the break, Nigeria was fortunate once more when Myeyung of Korea struck the crossbar with a 22-yard free kick.
After the break, Sabastine and Amina Bello had their attempts in the opposition box denied, and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, the replacement, also had a fantastic run on the right but was unable to convert it.
But just as it appeared like the match would end in a draw, Sabastine cut the ball from the right wing and smacked it into the back of the net to win it.Mkpa, on the other hand, got her own opportunity but was slammed.
The next game for Chris Danjuma’s team is on Wednesday night against Germany, the three-time champions who defeated Venezuela in the other Group D match.
