The Flying Eagles fought bravely but fell short last night as they crashed out of the Colombia 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup after a dramatic 3-2 quarterfinal loss to France after extra-time in Cali.
Substitute Maduabuchi Ejike’s 93rd minute equalizer handed Nigeria a lifeline and dragged the match into extra-time after Alexandre Lacazette had opened scoring by beating the offside trap and sliding the ball under Flying Eagles goalkeeper Dami Paul in the 50th minute.
But the French survived early Nigeria pressure in extra-time before Gueida Fofana made it 2-1 in the 12th minute of extra-time with a fine lob from distance that was beyond Dami’s reach.
Lacazette then put the match beyond the Eagles’ reach two minutes later when he rounded Dami and slotted the ball into an empty net.
The Nigerians pulled one back after a spell of pressure when Sani Emmanuel’s rasping drive from inside the ‘18’ came off the crossbar and fell kindly for Uche Nwofor, whose shot was deflected home by Ejike.
It was however too little, too late and the Europeans booked a place in the semi-finals against Portugal.
Substitute Maduabuchi Ejike’s 93rd minute equalizer handed Nigeria a lifeline and dragged the match into extra-time after Alexandre Lacazette had opened scoring by beating the offside trap and sliding the ball under Flying Eagles goalkeeper Dami Paul in the 50th minute.
But the French survived early Nigeria pressure in extra-time before Gueida Fofana made it 2-1 in the 12th minute of extra-time with a fine lob from distance that was beyond Dami’s reach.
Lacazette then put the match beyond the Eagles’ reach two minutes later when he rounded Dami and slotted the ball into an empty net.
The Nigerians pulled one back after a spell of pressure when Sani Emmanuel’s rasping drive from inside the ‘18’ came off the crossbar and fell kindly for Uche Nwofor, whose shot was deflected home by Ejike.
It was however too little, too late and the Europeans booked a place in the semi-finals against Portugal.
No comments:
Post a Comment