The United States of America dashed Nigeria’s hopes of claiming the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title with a decisive 2-0 victory in their quarter-final match at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros on Saturday, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra. This result marked a significant moment for the Americans, who sought to avenge their previous quarter-final defeat to Nigeria in the 2022 tournament.
The match saw Katharine Fuller open the scoring for the United States in the 43rd minute, converting a penalty after a foul in the box. This crucial goal allowed the Americans to head into halftime with a lead, boosting their confidence for the second half. Nigeria struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organized U.S. defense, which effectively neutralized their attacking threats.
In the 74th minute, Kimball Ascanio extended the lead to 2-0, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Nigeria. Her goal not only secured the victory but also highlighted the clinical finishing that the U.S. team displayed throughout the match. Despite Nigeria’s efforts to mount a comeback, they were unable to penetrate the American defense, and the match concluded with the United States advancing to the semi-finals.
The defeat marked the end of Nigeria’s impressive run in the tournament. Prior to this match, the Flamingos had performed admirably in the group stage, winning all their matches against New Zealand, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. They scored nine goals and conceded just one, showcasing their offensive prowess and defensive resilience. However, the U.S. proved to be a formidable opponent, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament at this stage.
While the result is disappointing for Nigeria, the team’s journey in the tournament remains commendable, and they can take pride in their strong performances leading up to the quarter-finals. The experience gained from this tournament will be invaluable as they look to build on their success in future competitions.
