At the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia early on Monday, Nigeria’s Falconets defeated the Korea Republic thanks to a late goal by Flourish Sabastine.
Deep into stoppage time at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, the Nigerian girls took full use of their opportunities to score goals in a game when there were plenty available.
If Mary Lucky Mkpa had been more precise, she could have finished the morning with a brace.
Despite the early promise by the Falconets, it was the Asians that came close to drawing the first blood on the quarter-hour, but Shukurat Oladipo got one foot to a teasing cross from the right.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Shukurat Bakare, almost gifted a goal in the 28th minute when she missed a pull-out, but the South Korean forward could only sky it.
At the other end, Mkpa had a chance of her own but slammed the ball a little too high after a brilliant pass from Rofiat Imuran.
Nigeria were again lucky just before halftime when Korea’s Myeyung rocked the crossbar from a 22-yard free-kick.
At the interval, Sabastine and Amina Bello saw their shots blocked in the opposition box, and substitute Chiamaka Okwuchukwu also came close from a good run on the right but could not make a meal of it.
However, when it looked like the game was heading to a stalemate, Sabastine sliced the ball from the right wing to smack the upright into the back of the net for the winner.
Next up for Chris Danjuma’s side is a clash on Wednesday evening against three-time champions, Germany who beat Venezuela in the other Group D fixture.
