…Meets Germany for 3rd place on Sunday
Two vital penalty misses during a period of sudden death usually called penalty shootouts sent the Flamingos of Nigeria crashing in a stunning defeat to hard fighting Columbia who won 6-5 after regular time ended 0-0 in the semifinals of the world U17 female world cup at Margao in India on Wednesday.
Nigerian editors and writers as free community labourers
Edafe who took the 4th shot kicked a terribly weak shot that could have been picked up by a Nursery 2 kid while Folorunsho just miserably lost her kick but Offiong; Etim; Usani; Afolabi and Oyinlola perfectly scored for Nigeria.
Only Murhoz lost her kick for Columbia, with Rodriguez; Perlaza; Espitalleta; Caicedo; Ortegon and Hernandez scoring their kicks before a crowd of 3,576 in the match officiated by Luliana Denzetrescu of Romania.
It was certain that the god of football did not turn up to support Nigeria that had only two shots on target against 8 from Columbia; despite holding ball possession of 56% to 46%, Columbia forced Nigeria to a 6-4 corner kicks. Nigeria had 11 fouls to 7 and was caught offside once against Columbia’s three times. Columbia however held their ground against the tired legs from Nigeria who were goal shy.
Top goal Scorer, Linda Caicedo was prevented from finding her goal number 5 still standing at 4 goals with Momoko Tanikawa of Japan. So now, Nigeria will contend with Loreen Bender who has 3 goals with Charlotte Kohler of America.
Despite never coming out successful from Group stages before, Columbia leapt into the finals poised to square up with defending champions, Spain on Sunday at 1530 hours Nigerian time.
Nigeria will play the 3rd place match against Germany at noon Nigerian time on Sunday but the match looks like riding a bicycle up Olumo Rock in Abeokuta Nigeria. English people will call that impossicant from impossible. Germany had beaten Nigeria 2-1 in their first match of the tournament and on current form; Nigeria is nowhere standing near the German records so far.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
