Nigeria 4-1 New Zealand: Oshoala, Uchechi Brace Falconets Up for Semis

Nigeria secured their semi-final ticket at the Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup courtesy of two goals from Asisat Oshoala and Uchechi Sunday on Sunday.

With spectators yet to settle down in a rainy Moncton Stadium, the Super Falconets had already taken the lead via Oshoala within 31 seconds of kick-off- the second-fastest goal at the U-20 women’s tournament, 13 seconds adrift of team-mate Courtney Dike’s strike against South Korea.

The team pressed forward from kick-off, as Ugo Njoku sent in a tailored cross through two New Zealand’s defender for the Rivers Angels striker to calmly head home from close range.

Oshoala completed her brace 11 minutes later from a Chiwendu Ihezuo’s long delivery, which the 20-year-old chased down, calmly controlled and then sent the ball through goalkeeper Lily Alfeld’s legs.

Uchechi then blasted home from a corner kick, six yards from goal in the 84th minute for her first of the tournament in Canada.

Emma Rolston ensured the Kiwi ladies would not crash out of their debut quarter-final without putting up a fight a minute to regulation time, deflecting Jasmine Pereira’s cross past Sunday Chiichii in goal for Nigeria.

Sunday grabbed her second goal within six minutes of her first, dribbling down the left to beat a defender before calmly slotting past Anfeld.

Falconets will face North Korea in the semi-finals on Wednesday.