TheCable

Nigeria proved to be too strong for New Zealand as Asisat Oshoala’s brace gave the Super Falconets a 4-1 win and passage into the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014.

Just 31 seconds into the match, Oshoala finished an attack from kick-off. Ugo Njoku sent in an inch-perfect cross from the right to find the team’s key player in between two New Zealand defenders. She calmly headed home from six yards.

Oshoala’s opening goal is the second-fastest goal at a U-20 Women’s World Cup, only better than Courtney Dike’s strike 18 seconds into Nigeria’s second group stage game.

The team’s midfielder doubled Nigeria’s lead 11 minutes later when Chinwendu Ihezuo delightful ball into space beat four Kiwi defenders for Oshoala to chase down. The speedy forward took one touch towards goal and finished through Lily Alfeld’s legs.

New Zealand, who were playing in their first quarter-final at an Under-20 Women’s World Cup, looked out of their comfort zone throughout the first half and were never able to trouble the Nigerian backline. After the second goal, the Super Falconets slowed down the tempo as both teams looked to navigate the wet conditions in Moncton.

It was much of the same after the break, though Emma Rolston nearly gave New Zealand a way back into the game in the 54th minute. Their goalkeeper though did well to keep the scoreline at 2-0 in the 68th minute when she tipped Uchenna Kanu’s powerful shot off the crossbar that otherwise would have screamed into the roof of the net.

But there was little the Kiwi keeper could do six minutes from time when Uchechi Sunday blasted home from six yards off a corner kick to extend Nigeria’s lead to 3-0.

Rolston made it 3-1 in the 89th minute after she beat her marker to the near post and redirected Jasmine Pereira’s cross past Chiichii to make it 3-1.

Nigeria restored their three-goal lead in the dying seconds of the match when Sunday scored her second goal in six minutes.

With three wins in a row, Nigeria will enter the semi-finals full of confidence against Korea DPR on Wednesday.