Thursday, February 2, 2023
Soccernet.ng
  • Home
  • Leagues
    • EPL
    • NPFL
    • La Liga
    • Seria A
    • Ligue 1
  • Live Scores
  • App
  • Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Betting
No Result
View All Result
Soccernet.ng
No Result
View All Result

FIFA U-17 Cup: Nigeria qualify to win trophy 5th time

Biyi Akangbe by Biyi Akangbe
7 years ago
in News
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SoccerNet Nigeria
Holders Nigeria have reached their second consecutive final thanks to a thrilling 4-2 victory against Mexico in Concepcion. Mexico opened the scoring through Kevin Magana, with stunning efforts from Kelechi Nwakali and Orji Okwonkwo seeing the African side ahead. Diego Cortes’s remarkable solo effort levelled matters before Osinachi Ebere and Victor Osimhen’s late record-equalling penalty saw the Golden Eaglets into an all-African final against Mali.

Mexico controlled the ball in the opening stages of the match, and took the lead early on. Kevin Lara beat his man on the Mexican right and delivered a teasing cross into the middle. Aguirre tried to control with his chest, but Magana took charge and fired home.
Emmanuel Amuneke’s side began to grow into the game, with Kelechi Nwakali hitting a low drive from the edge of the Mexican penalty area with his venomous drive stinging the palms of Romero before the ball was cleared away.

The game see-sawed back Mexico’s way, with a free kick from the Mexican left headed goalwards by Jose Esquivel. The chance forced a superb point blank stop by Akpan Udoh, onto the crossbar and eventually cleared behind.

Nigeria rode their luck, with a couple of good Mexican opportunities and after riding the storm, managed to level things up thanks to the superb technique of their captain. Nwakali spotted up a free kick from around 25 yards, and curled a perfect effort into the bottom left-hand corner. Romero stood no chance.

Amuneke’s charges sensed their opponents were on the back foot, and Okwonkwo took advantage, producing one of the moments of the tournament to see his side ahead. He cut inside from the left onto his right foot and thumped an effort in off the crossbar.
After the break, Mexico took time to reassert their rhythm after the shock of going behind. Cortes then stepped up to score what must be considered one of the best goals ever scored in the Estadio Ester Roa. He picked up the ball on the Mexican right just inside the Nigerian half and proceeded to dribble past five players, showing incredible close control before slotting calmly past Udoh.

Nigeria were undeterred by Cortes’s golazo and struck back. Ebere found space on the Nigerian right just inside the Mexican penalty area after a long through ball. His right-footed effort was too strong for Romero, who got a hand to the strike but could not keep it out.
John Lazarus was taken down in the Mexican penalty area, giving Osimhen the chance to score his ninth goal of Chile 2015 and go level at the top of the all-time U-17 World Cup goalscoring charts. He slotted home with ease, adding gloss to the Golden Eaglets victory.

Nigeria head to Vina Del Mar on Sunday for an all-African final against continental champions Mali while Mexico will face off against Belgium in the match for third place earlier the same day.

More on FIFA U-17 World Cup»
[post_ad] For the latest football news, follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page.

Tags: FIFA U-17 World CupNews
Share6Tweet4

Biyi Akangbe

Biyi Akangbe

Biyi is an editor at Soccernet.ng. He has been in the media industry for almost a decade and has worked with top publishers in Nigeria. He loves Sports, Games and Music! [email protected] Twitter: @its_biyi

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Nigerian exports: Oshoala makes it goal 101 at Barcelona; Dessers advance, Aina crash out of Coppa Italia

Super Dessers helps Cremonese break 36-year barrier

Promising Nigerian midfielder teams up with Valladolid

Brilliant Balogun blasts past Moffi, Mbappe with perfect performance against Bonke’s Lorient

2023 Afcon draws: Golden Eaglets to trade tackles with South Africa, Morocco

Soccernet.ng

Copyright © 2022 Soccernet Media Limited.

Navigate Site

  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy policy
  • Contact us
  • App

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Leagues
    • EPL
    • NPFL
    • La Liga
    • Seria A
    • Ligue 1
  • Live Scores
  • App
  • Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Betting

Copyright © 2022 Soccernet Media Limited.