Nigeria over power South Africa with 2-1 win
11-04-2010
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| Nkwocha scoring her goal |
For the first time since the beginning of the competition, the stadium was filled to capacity and the atmosphere inside the stadium was electrifying.
The match was however a let down from the start as both sides came out rather cautiously. The two teams sized each other up for the greater part of the opening minutes but in the 20th minute, South Africa had the first real chance of the game with goal keeper Precious Dede tipping over the bar a goal bound header by captain Matlou Noko after an inside the box scramble.
The game assumed a different dimension and in the 22nd minute, Perpetua Nkwocha who had been heavily marked all day, finally broke loose as she was released by Ebere orji with a pass that caught the South African defence off guard. Nkwocha with an opening day hat-trick, controlled her nerves to slot home the opening goal, catching the onrushing goal keeper off guards.
The Nigerians became spirited and pressed on for another goal with Stella Mbachu using speed as her major asset to leave her marker in her wake in the 30th minute only to see her cross into the box cleared into a corner kick. Helen Ukaonu also went pass the offside trap of the South Africans in the 32nd minute but her finishing left much to be desired.
The South Africans still could not break down the Nigerian defence and each time they poured forward, Mbachu Stella was always on hand to cause anxious moments on the counter and in the 38th minute, she won a corner kick that was well measured by Jerome Ulunma and perfectly turned in with the head by Perpetua Nkwocha for her 2nd goal of the day.
The goal sent the Nigerian fans into delirium but it was however not for long as South Africa powered back through a thunderous 30 yards free-kick by Van Wyk right on the dot of time to make it 2-1.
Referee Dia Fadouma from Senegal only awarded a minute of added time, an indication that the game had been played clean and rightly contested.
It was South Africa 1-2 Nigeria going into the break.
The 2nd half was then expected to explode into a warfare and Nigeria began the half by replacing Ebere Orji who was a shadow of her Germany U-20 world cup performance with Francisca Ordega who scored one of the goals against Mali in the opening match.
Francisca Ordega was immediately put through on goal in the 49th minute but she shot tamely directly at the South Africa goal keeper.
South Africa then seized the initiative from then on and a couple of long range balls into the Falcons 18 yard box clearly unsettled goal keeper Precious Dede.
The turn of events spurned the South Africa bench into action and Dlamini Amanda came on for Matjila Elson in the 63rd minute, clearly an attacking change.
The Nigerian bench obviously not at ease also got the message and reacted by taking out Glory Iroka and sent on Ngozi okobi.
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| Super Falcon Celebrating one of their goals. |
In the 80th minute, South Africa almost got the deserved equalizer as Precious Dede fumbles with a cross but danger woman, Popela Mamphase was beaten to the rebound by a Falcon defender.
[source:cafonline]
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