Nigeria and Spain made winning starts to the 2024 FIFA Under 17 Women World Cup that kicked off on Wednesday 16th October in the Dominican Republic.
Nigeria beat New Zealand 4-1 with Shakirat Mashood finding the back of the net just after the second minute. Taiwo Adegoke doubled their lead ten minutes later before Farida Opeyemi Abdulwahab ensuring they had a healthy 3-0 lead at the half time break.
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Coach Bankole Olowookere returned from the tunnel, firing from all cylinders in the second half, and Taiwo Tewogbola Afolabi extended the lead in the 55th minute to render Hannah Aimee Saxon pull back later for New Zealand a mere consolation.
In another game of the day, Spain beat USA 3-1, Ecuador beating hosts Dominican 2-0 with South Korea and Colombia fighting to a 1-1 draw.
In the Spain win, Jocelyn Travers conceded a third-minute own-goal and although Melanie Barcenas levelled, Noa Requena and Alba Izquierdo struck for Spain in the last 17 minutes.
The draw between South Korea and Colombia drew in the same group, and Ella Martinez’s goal was cancelled out by a Casey Phair penalty for the Koreans.
Jaslym Tenorio bagged a first-half brace as Colombia defeated the host nation, the Dominican Republic.
Thursday’s fixtures
- Japan v Poland
- North Korea v Mexico
- Brazil v Zambia
- Kenya v England
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