Chris Maduewesi
Member
It was Nigeria's first group game of the competition,a game they wanted to win by all means to firmly be in control of their group.
But somehow,a draw would be a fair result as the Falconets aim to become the first African team tp achieve such quest.
Asisat Oshoala came very to opening the scores when she latched on to a through pass and was clear on goal,only for her to fail in applying the finish that was required to find the net.
The Nigerian girls were made to pay when a breakdown in communication cost the Falconets as they found themselves trailing the Mexicans.
Nigeria's goalkeeper,Sandra Chi- Chi came out of her lines to head out a ball,but it fell nicely to Fabiola Ibarra who showed great composure,looping the ball over the retracting Nigerian goalkeeper and defender to open the scores.
It was a perfect tonic that the Mexicans needed to settle into the game but the Nigerians explored their options for a goal.
Loveth Ayila's effort was expertly saved by the Mexican goalkeeper,Santiago who got a touch to her shot to take the ball out for a corner-kick.
Just before the break,Nigeria's breakthrough came through Osarenoma Igbinovia.
The Nigerian midfielder scored a wonderful goal to equalise for the Falconets,belting an unstoppable shot that eluded the Mexican keeper and sailed into the net.
It was the Nigerian girls who started the second half brightly adding a bit of pace and urgency as they went in search of the winning goal.
Both teams did enough to contain each other,however Mexico looked contented with a draw.
Oshoala had another good opportunity to find the net for Nigeria when she was teed up in the dying stages of the game,only for her to replicate what she did in the first half,putting the ball over the keeper and above the net.
Nigeria settled for a point and will now hope to do better in subsequent games against Korea Republic and England.
Photo Credit: @FIFAWWC