Nigeria 1-1 Brazil: Falconets scrape a draw with Brazil

The Falconets earlier today in Saitama drew their second game 1-1 with Brazil in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

 Francisca Ordega scored Nigeria’s goal late in the first half while the Brazilians equalised though Giovanna Oliveira in the second half to hold on for their second point in the group.

 The Brazilians had the better of the match and were also better in the second half but the Nigerians held on to take their points haul to four in the group ahead of their last match against the Italians on Saturday.

 The Falconets play was characterised by a lot of misplaced passing and the transition between the defence and midfield was almost non-existent and a lot of kudos has to be given to the Gloria Ofoegbu-led defence that they held on to take the draw.

 Nigeria went ahead in first half stoppage against the run of play when Ordega’s wonderful shot beat the Brazilian goalkeeper all ends up. And it seemed that the goal unshackled the players as they had two more attempts to score before the half ended.

 In the 45th minute, Desire Oparanozie chased down a defender on the left flank, won the ball and her audacious attempt from almost the corner flag just crept over the cross bar.

 A minute later, Esther Sunday took the ball in midfield and drove at the Brazilians who backed off. Sunday turned and shot but it went marginally wide off the right post.

 The Brazilians would have been glad when the referee blew off the first half. The second half started like the first with the Brazilians pushing for an equaliser as a loss would almost have consigned them to leaving the tournament in the first stage.

 They could not create clear cut chances though as the Falconets held firm at the back. But the pendulum finally swung their way when Nigeria’s goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte injured her ankle and had to be substituted by Chioma Nwankwo and immediately the Brazilians smelt blood as they camped in Nigeria’s half.

 The Falconets’ resistance finally broke in the 90th minute when a free kick from the right was flicked past Nwankwo by Oliviera to get a deserved equaliser. In five minutes of added time, the Brazilians pushed forward for a winner but could not go ahead. The Falconets also tried to push for a winner but Oparanozie’s free kick went wide.

 The Falconets now need at least a point from their last game against Italy to progress though coach Edwin Okon has work to do on getting his players to possess the ball well and not invite pressure by continuously misplacing passes.

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