MARGAO: Colombia continued their fairy tale journey in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, entering the final with a sudden-death 6-5 shootout victory over Nigeria at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.
Their maiden entry into the summit clash at any level, men’s or women’s, however didn’t come without anxiety.After dominating the encounter what with a string of spurned opportunities, the lottery of a penalty shootout may have held ominous forebodings for the South Americans.
There was no score at full-time during which the Nigerian goal enjoyed a charmed life.
There were chances that fell to Yesica Munoz and Mary Epitaleta (who rocked the bar) stemming from the talismanic captain Linda Caicedo’s enterprise, who also failed to put away two gilt-edged opportunities past Faith Omilana in the Nigerian goal.
Munoz compounded her prodigality by failing with her penalty in the tiebreaker – thanks to a fine block by specialist tiebreaker goalkeeper Chikamso Jiwuaku.
Indeed, the wasted chances in open play could have come back to haunt the Colombians. Edafe Omamuzo stepped up to take the last penalty in the set of five for Nigeria with the score 4-4 after Caicedo cooly converted Colombia’s last in the set of five. Omamuzo’s attempt hit player of the match Luisa Agudelo’s right post and the contest entered sudden-death penalties.
With the score at 5-5 after one-round of the extended tiebreaker,Agudelo brought off a splendid save, lunging to her left to thwart Comfort Folorunsho and take her team to Sunday’s final in Navi Mumbai.
