Final countdown: How Germany beat Falconets in 2010

The Super Falconets meet Germany on Sunday in the U-20 Women’s World Cup final in Canada.

We relive the last time both teams met at this same stage in 2010, where Nigeria became the first African team to appear in the final of any FIFA Women’s World Cup or Olympic Games.

Germany triumph at home

An early goal from Alexandra Popp and a late own goal earned Germany a 2-0 win over Nigeria to lift the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and in the process become the first host nation to do so.

It was Popp’s 10th goal of the tournament, which gave her the addidas Golden Shoe as top scorer.

It was a fully deserved victory for the Germans who were winning the competition for the second time – they were also champions in Thailand in 2004. Nigeria did their best and fought to the end but the host did the most to the delight of the capacity crowd in Bielefeld.

Throughout the tournament, Germany had the habit of scoring early goals and the final was no exception. Eight minutes into the match, Popp fed Dzsenifer Marozsan the ball who gave her a return pass. Germany’s prolific number 11 then ran past Joy Jegede and her shot towards the far corner beat goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan.

Kim Kulig almost doubled the lead for the Germans but her effort from a direct free-kick narrowly missed the target.

Any thoughts the home crowd may have entertained about this being a formality after the early goal were swiftly dispelled as the Falconets raised their game and intensity. Ebere Orji picked up possession down the right and aimed for goal. The angle was tight but the shot was strong and Almuth Schult in goal for Germany had to turn it over.

Another chance soon came. Helen Ukaonu was crowded out by the Germans but the ball fell to Desire Oparanozie who was only inches wide as she attempted to curl the ball in from her position to the left of goal.

Goalkeeper Jonathan almost gifted Germany a second goal to take into half-time when she kicked the ball straight to Sylvia Arnold who shot towards the left-hand corner. The keeper made amends with the save.

In the second half, Nigeria continued in the same vein, winning some vital midfield challenges and forcing Germany back with their strength. But it was the home side who had the best opening chance.

Popp could have scored on two occasions as Svenja Huth picked her out with crosses. The first she couldn’t keep on target, the second ballooned off her chest and Jonathan was forced to push the ball out from beneath her crossbar.

At the other end Oparanozie was a constant threat with her physical attributes but her final touch was not as strong.

In added time the home side forced two corners and from the second Kulig headed towards goal. The ball came back off the post but Osinachi Ohale was at the wrong place as the ball hit her on the back before crossing the line for Germany fortuitous second goal.

Line-ups

Nigeria: Jonathan, Ofoegbu (-55′), Nku, Sunday, Orji, Oparanozie, Kalu, Iroka, Jegede,  Ukaonu, Ohale

Subs

Okoronkwo (+55′)

Germany: Schult, Kemme, Priessen, Gessat, Hegering, Huth (-82′), Marozsan (-79′), Popp, Arnold (-88′), Kulig, Schmidt

Subs

Mirlach (+79′), Wagner (+88′), Knaak (+82′)

Why Falconets lost

One sentence would have just been enough – Nigeria lost to a better side. And key match stats buttress the point.

Germany had 20 shots compared to Nigeria’s 16. Both teams had seven shots at goal each. At five each, they were also even in the number of corner kicks played. Nigeria edged the Germans in ball possession at 54:46 but the vital stat – the scoreline – is the most important and Germany scored two goals.

The early goal unnerved the Nigerians as well as the home crowd.

Quotes

We won the match and that’s the most important thing. It was very nice to play in front of the home crowd and our dream came true to win the final. In the last year we did not have the best results so during this tournament we always had the dream to improve and play better and after the group stage I was sure we could do it and we did. The one-to-one marking of Nigeria was not very pleasant to play against and after 15 minutes we forgot to keep running. By the way Nigeria played, you could see how they reached the final, and they made it a tough piece of work for us today. As for the senior team and next year’s World Cup, I hope lots of these players can step up. It’s their responsibility to keep on working hard and I hope they make it.

Maren Meinert, Germany coach

Normally when you go to a war front, there has to be a loser and a winner. The game has ended this way and we accept it. We are very pleased that we weren’t pushovers and we hope to do something better in the next competition. The early goal was really a setback for us because we had not settled and there was a lack of concentration. They were alert because we had given them instructions but it happened and we have to accept it. Again today we have not utilised our opportunities. If you don’t take your chances there is more pressure on your defence and if it is not strong enough it will collapse. If we had accepted 50 percent of our chances we would have scored a lot more goals in this competition.

Ndem Egan, Nigeria coach

This is the best day of my career so far and it will take me some time to realise what has happened today and during the tournament. As for the World Cup next year, I have to improve my skills to take part. Was it tiring to go up three times to receive my awards? No, it was an honour for me and I enjoyed it. I don’t really have too much time to do anything with the trophies because after two days I am going on a tour with my club to Northern Ireland. 

Alexandra Popp, Germany’s adidas Golden Shoe and Golden Ball winner

How they got to the final