Nigeria’s Falconets suffered a 2-1 defeat to Japan in the round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia on Friday morning to crash out of the competition.
A goal in each half, first by Miyu Matsunaga and then by Maya Hijikata, meant that Olushola Shobowale’s composed finish one minute into time-added-on was too guarantee qualification at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota.
The tenacious Maya Hijikata came close in the 13th minute, almost capitalizing as goalkeeper Faith Omilana came out to punch the ball from a cross, but Comfort Folorunsho was on the line to rescue the situation.
Japan’s famed electric pace and clever flicks and chips were countered by Nigeria’s fit-fighting approach and positional play.
