New Zealand’s hopes of clearing the group stages at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup have been dashed by a second loss in India.
New Zealand were outclassed 4-0 by Nigeria’s Flamingos who dominated the game from the kick-off.
The match stats tell the story — the Nigerians had a shot on goal every third minute, on average, and half of them were on target.
Only desperate defending and a refusal to cave in kept the margin to four goals.
The Nigerian’s took the lead on 16 minutes when Amina Bello headed home a cross from Tumininu Adeshina.
Miracle Usani claimed Nigeria’s second goal, after 34 minutes, when her looping shot from the edge of the area appeared to take a touch off the head of New Zealand skipper Manaia Elliott, when she and goalkeeper Aimee Danielli hesitated in their efforts to clear the ball.
In the second half, Nigeria had New Zealand under the pump, and the Flamingos scored two outstanding goals.
The first, from Taiwo Afalobi, was a cracking shot that game Danieli no chance.
The other was a 35-metre rocket from Edidiong Etim that flew high into the net, four minutes into added time.
Meanwhile, Germany beat Chile 6-0 in the other group game to make sure of progression to the knockout stage.
New Zealand’s final group game is against Germany on Monday night.
Main photo: New Zealand supporters at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Watch highlights
Result
Game played on Saturday October 15, 2022 (NZT)
New Zealand 0
Nigeria 4 (Amina Omowunmi Bello 16′, Miracle Usani 34′, Taiwo Afalobi 75′, Edidiong Etim 90+4′)
Match stats
(New Zealand / Nigeria)
Shots: 5 / 30
Shots on target: 0 / 15
Possession: 34% / 66%
Passes: 206 / 393
Pass accuracy: 47% / 69%
Fouls committed: 5 / 2
Yellow cards: 0 / 0
Corners: 5 / 12
Offsides: 0 / 2
Line-up
New Zealand
Aimee Danieli, Suya Haering, Marie Green, Ella McMillan (Lara Smith 63′), Manaia Elliott (c), Charlotte Mortlock (Olivia Page 77′), Helena Errington, Kiara Bercelli (Alexis Cook 63′), Milly Clegg (Rebekah Trewhitt 81′), Ruby Nathan (Lara Colpi 63′), Olivia Ingham.
Subs not used: Madelaine Iro, Zoe Benson, Megan Simpson.
Group B
Previous result
Game played on Wednesday October 12, 2022 (NZT)
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Chile 3 (Ambar Figuera 12′, Taii Rovner 22′ pen, Anals Cifuentes 64′)
New Zealand 1 (Milly Clegg 52′)
Fixture
Germany v New Zealand
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao
Monday October 17, 11.45pm (NZT)
The squad
(club, home federation, school)
Aimee Danieli; Auckland United FC; NRF; Epsom Girls Grammar School
Alexis Cook; Northern Rovers FC ; NRF; Westlake Girls High School
Charlotte Eagle; Melville United AFC; WaiBoP; Hamilton Girls High
Charlotte Mortlock; Cashmere Technical; Mainland; Burnside High School
Ella McMillan; Phoenix Academy; Capital; AUT
Ella McCann; FC Nelson; Mainland; Waimea College
Emily (Milly) Clegg; Auckland United FC; NRF; Mount Albert Grammar
Helena Errington; Western Suburbs; Capital; Wellington Girls College
Kiara Bercelli; Alamein FC; Mainland; Te Kura
Lara Smith; Wellington United; Capital; Wellington Girls College
Lara Colpi; Western Springs AFC; NRF; Epsom Girls Grammar School
Madeleine Iro; Cashmere Technical; Mainland; Christchurch Girls High School
Manaia Elliott; Melville United AFC; WaiBoP; St Peters Cambridge
Marie Green; Ellerslie AFC; NRF; Baradene College
Megan Simpson; Nomads United AFC; Mainland; St Andrews College
Olivia Ingham; Phoenix Academy; Capital; Onslow College
Olivia Page; Eastern Suburbs AFC; NRF; Baradene College
Rebekah Trewhitt; PN Marist FC; Central; St Peters College PN
Ruby Nathan; Auckland United FC; NRF; Baradene College
Suya Hearing; Northern Rovers FC; NRF; Rangitoto College
Zoe Benson; Eastern Suburbs AFC; NRF; Macleans College
About the tournament
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup takes place from October 11-30 in India .
The Young Football Ferns were nominated to be Oceania Football Confederation’s representatives at this World Cup after the Oceania qualifiers could not take place due to the effects of the COVID pandemic.
In 2018, the Young Football Ferns created history when they were the first New Zealand national team to bring home a medal at a FIFA event, when they won the bronze medal at the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.
The Young Football Ferns games will be broadcast on Sky Sport NZ.
Groups
Group A
India, United States, Morocco, Brazil
Group B
Germany, Nigeria, Chile, New Zealand
Group C
Spain, Columbia, Mexico, China
Group D
Japan, Tanzania, Canada, France
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