In the quarterfinal clash of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2012, Nigeria, vying for its fifth consecutive appearance in the event’s quarterfinals, was considered the favorite against Mexico, which was making only its second appearance. However, on Thursday in Tokyo, logic took a back seat as the second phase commenced, and the Falconets ultimately emerged victorious.
The Mexican squad, also known as El Tri, initially faced considerable challenges. Throughout the first 45 minutes, Mexico struggled to make an impact, with the only glimmer of hope coming from a long-range shot by Sofia Huerta midway through the period. However, they were largely dominated both before and after that moment. Guided by the excellent performance of Ngozi Okobi, a near miss by Desire Oparanozie hitting the crossbar, and a disallowed goal for offside by Francisca Ordega, the Nigerians had ample opportunities to take the lead.
Despite their earlier struggles, the face of the Mexican team transformed upon returning from the locker room. Displaying greater composure, improved organization, and perhaps boosted confidence from withstanding the pressure, the Aztecs created the most threatening chances. Notably, Nayeli Rangel’s header and an extended volley from Ariana Martinez posed significant threats. However, much like their counterparts, who consistently faced a stellar Cecilia Santiago, the scoreboard remained unchanged until the end of regular time.
The deadlock was finally broken in the later stages of extra time, during the second period, when Desire Oparanozie found her scoring touch. In the 109th minute, she headed in a perfect cross from Ugo Njoku. Despite the challenges faced earlier in the match, Nigeria secured their spot in the semi-final. They are now set to face the winner of the Korea DPR versus USA match.5qd
