COUNTDOWN: How USA clipped Falconets’ wings at 2012 semis

In continuation of our countdown to Wednesday’s semi-final clash between the Super Falconets and Korea DPR in the U-20 Women’s World Cup, we relive the 2012 last-four game with the United States in Japan.

USA ends Nigeria’s ambitions

USA qualified for their third FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over 2010 finalists Nigeria in Tokyo, Japan.

Goals in each half from Morgan Brian (22nd) and Kealia Ohai (70th) saw off the resistance of the Super Falconets who before this game were unbeaten in the competition.

The African champions made the brighter start to the game and would have been a goal up had Francisca Ordega taken her chance. She latched onto a through ball on seven minutes and beat goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin to it, only for her effort to go wide.

The first goal in a game is the most important and USA got it when Brian directed a header over goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte from Mollie Pathman’s cross from the left.

The Americans took control of the game after the goal and created several chances in the closing stages of the first half. It would have been 3-0 for them had efforts from Cari Roccaro and Kelly Cobb not narrowly missed the net.

On resumption of the second half, Nigeria went in search of an equaliser and they thought they had drawn level but Desire Oparanozie’s effort was ruled offside.

Oparanozie was involved in another chance for Nigeria to even the score but she blazed her effort over the bar from an Ngozi Okobi’s pass.

Midway through the second half, though, it was the Americans who extended their lead.

Substitute Samantha Mewis’ pass to Ohai, who got the better of her marker and score, killed off the fighting spirits of the Falconets.

USA then won their third title in the final – following previous U-20 women’s triumphs in 2002 and 2008 – against the holders Germany.

Lineups

Nigeria: Whyte, Ofoegbu, Njoku, Nku (-68′), Sunday, Oparanozie (-72′), Okobi, Adeyemo, Oshoala (-79′), Chukwunonye, Ordega

Subs

Osawaru (+79′), Orji (+72′), Adule (+68′)

USA: Heaberlin, Pathman, Roccaro, Dunn, Hayes (-66′), Brian (-83′), Ohai, Johnston, Di Bernardo, Killion, Cobb (-46′)

Subs

Ubogagu (+46′), Mewis (+66′), Laddish (+83′)

Why Falconets lost

Against Mexico in the quarter-finals, Nigeria came close to crashing out of the tournament after squandering several chances before Desire Oparanozie’s extra-time goal sent them through. They experienced the same difficulties against USA, only this time the Falconets paid the price, failing to score despite creating plenty of chances and conceding twice at the other end.

The African champions dominated possession (58:42) but its goals that count. They needed both luck and a cool head in front of goal. But they had neither against the Yankees.

USA had hunger and desire to win this game. They had revenge in their minds as well. Coach Steve Swanson’s young charges were knocked out in a dramatic penalty shootout in the quarter-finals by Nigeria in 2010. They got their pound of flesh this time within 90 minutes.

Quotes

I think that everything worked fine, as it usually does. Everything, that is apart from converting our chances – we ended up missing most of the ones that came our way. What we can take from this tournament first and foremost is the fact that we have to treat each attack like it’s the only chance we’re going to get in that match. The Americans only had a few chances but they put them away, and if we’d have done the same with one or two of ours, it would be us in the final

Gloria Ofoegbu, Nigeria captain

Third place wouldn’t be that bad at the end of the day. We began the tournament looking to make the final at least and unfortunately we didn’t manage to do that. But once the final whistle blew, we set ourselves a new goal. Being the third-best team in the world in this age group would be pretty good.

Okon Edwin, Falconets’ coach.

I‘m totally exhausted but really happy. It was a tough match, very physical. Nigeria demanded everything from us. The first goal was important. The game against Ghana probably helped us. And in my opinion, probably we may not have won the quarter-final against Korea DPR if we didn‘t have the tough games in the group stage. My players learnt really quick, learnt the lessons from each game and made it better in the next games.

Steve Swanson, USA coach.

How they got to the semis

Group matches – Group B

August 19                            NGA      2-0          KOR

August 22                            BRA        1-1          NGA

August 26                            ITA         0-4          NGA

Quarter-finals

August 30                            NGA      1-0 a.e.t.              MEX