BY Victor Akhidenor
Defending FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, advanced to the quarter-finals of Chile 2015 after a 6-0 win against Australia in Vina Del Mar.
A hat-trick from the impressive Victor Osimhen ended Australia’s run in a one-sided victory, which is now the joint-biggest win in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup knockout stages, level with Japan’s 6-0 win against New Zealand in 2011, which also came in the round-of-16.
The Aussies started the game on a bright note, but it was Funsho Ibrahim Bamgboye who hit the post from the edge of the penalty area as Nigeria’s first effort narrowly failed to break the deadlock.
Osimhen, the tournament leading scorer, put Nigeria ahead on 22 minutes after bursting forward with pace and power on the left, before turning his defender and sliding the ball inside the far post.
Cameron Joice could have equalised for Australia but his shot was saved while Lucas Derrick pushed the follow-up wide.
That near-miss was like a wake-up call for Nigeria, as they were two in front. Bambgboye went to ground in the penalty area, and Kelechi Nwakali coolly slotted home the resultant penalty.
It was 2-0 at the interval, and the game was still a contest until the final 17 minutes before Nigeria ran riot.
Osimhen scored twice in the space of six minutes, the second a ferocious yet accurate drive into the top corner.
The Aussies conceded to more goals in the dying minutes. Substitute Edidiong Michael Essien, and then Samuel Chukwueze, inflicted further pain as Nigeria stormed into the last-eight in confident fashion.
They will now face Brazil in the quarter final on Sunday, November 1.
Mexico 4-1 Chile
Brazil 1-0 New Zealand
Nigeria 6-0 Australia
Korea Republic 0-2 Belgium
Next matchday
Thursday October 29
Round-of-16
Croatia – Germany
Mali – Korea DPR
Russia – Ecuador
France – Costa Rica
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