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Anthony Nlebem
Nigeria’s U20 female side, the Falconets beat South Korea 1-0 in their second match to reach the quarter-finals of the ongoing 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
Both teams won their first games of the tournament. The Falconets beat France 1-0, while South Korea defeated Canada 2-0.
Flourish Sabastine’s 85th-minute goal gave Christopher Danhuma’s side a 1-0 win over tournament favourites France in their group opener on Friday.
Esther Onyenezide’s fierce curling shot flew past Yoonji Do for the only goal of the match in the 83rd minute.
Hayeon Mu missed from a corner kick and Garam Chun hit the upright from a free-kick, but the Falconets managed to keep things tight at the back even as energetic Mercy Idoko, Onyenezide and Bashirat Amoo worked tirelessly in the middle.
In the 54th minute, Onyenezide’s rasping shot from the right side was parried away by Do, and 10 minutes later, it was the turn of Oyono Omini, in goal for Nigeria, to parry away a fierce 25 –yard shot unleashed by Eunyoung Lee.
Effervescent midfielder Onyenezide would have the last word, curling a fierce shot past Do with only seven minutes to go to send Africa’s best team into the quarter-finals.
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa had on Saturday sent a motivational message to the Falconets ahead of their second Group C game with South Korea.
The Falconets will play their third game against Canada in the early hours of Thursday and could play possible quarter-final opponents from Group D.
Japan, The Netherlands, USA and Africa’s other flagbearers Ghana make up Group D.