Nigeria 1-0 Venezuela: Oduntan's late penalty sends Flamingos to the U17 World Cup semi-finals
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- Nigeria's Flamingos are one win from the final of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup after Azeezat Oduntan's 89th-minute penalty beat Venezuela 1-0 in Sunday's quarter-final at Pitch 4, Mohammed VI Football Academy, Salé.
It was goalless at half-time, and for long stretches it looked like Venezuela would frustrate Nigeria the way they frustrated Germany in the last round. Their goalkeeper and captain Valeria Rebanales was outstanding, keeping the giant-killers in the tie deep into the second half. But late drama decided it: a penalty won in the 88th minute, converted by Oduntan in the 89th, and Nigeria held on.
The game
Nigeria started as they have all tournament, on the front foot, but found Venezuela organized and hard to break down. The South Americans had already shown their resilience in the Round of 16, when Diana Bravo's 5th-minute goal beat Germany 1-0 and they defended that lead against a side that had won all three of its group games.
Sunday followed a similar pattern. Venezuela sat in, stayed compact, and relied on Rebanales whenever Nigeria found a way through. The Flamingos kept pressing, and their persistence was finally rewarded two minutes from the end of normal time.
The moment
The penalty, won in the 88th minute and scored in the 89th, was the tie's defining moment. Oduntan held her nerve from the spot, and from there Nigeria saw the game out. It was a fitting end to a quarter-final that had promised tension and delivered it: two teams who had already ended bigger sides' tournaments, separated by a single late goal.
The road here
Nigeria's run to the last four has already included statement results. After losing 2-1 to Poland and beating Puerto Rico 2-0, the Flamingos beat defending champions Korea DPR 3-1 to finish second in Group B. In the Round of 16, they beat Mexico 2-1, with goals from Oluebube Umejiaku (40') and Mary Dunstan (71'), before Emily Delgado pulled one back for Mexico in the 90+10th minute of a match that ran to 90+17'.
Venezuela, meanwhile, arrived in the quarter-finals as the tournament's giant-killers after ending Germany's campaign. Sunday's result ends their run, but not before they pushed Nigeria all the way.
What next
The reward is a semi-final against Brazil on Wednesday, November 4. Brazil, who needed a penalty shootout to get past China in their quarterfinal, stand between Nigeria and the final.
From beating the champions, to beating Mexico, to beating the giant-killers, the Flamingos are one win from the final. Can they go all the way?
