Nigeria bowed out of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup after a 2-0 loss to The Netherlands on Sunday. The Falconets could not reenact earlier round performances, which saw them winning all three group phase matches, in this quarter-final match in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Flourish Sabastine, who scored Falconet’s winning goal against France in their Group C opening match, could not make hay in the seventh minute.
But four minutes later, the Dutch were ahead, when Zera Hulswit rammed a perfect dipping shot beyond Omini Oyono after pulling away on the counter-attack. In the 15th minute, Sabastine again pulled away and let fly, but impressive goalkeeper Claire Dinkla tipped the ball away.
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On the half-hour, Falconet nearly got the leveller their endeavour deserved when Deborah Abiodun seized the ball as the Dutch defence fell into confusion.
But her dipping shot from 25 metres rocked the crossbar and was then tipped away from the head of Chiamaka Okwuchukwu. But after consulting the Video Assistant Referee, Costa Rican official Marianela Araya overturned her own decision to award a penalty kick.
The Netherlands will now meet Spain on Thursday in the first semi-final fixture after the European side beat Mexico 1-0 in the first quarter-final match on Saturday.
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Brazil who also won 1-0 against Colombia on Saturday in the second quarter-final match awaits the winners of the fourth quarter-final match fixture between defending champions Japan and France.
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