U-17W/Cup: Flamingoes Put 11 Past Azerbaijan

Nigeria registered a demoralising 11-0 victory over FIFA
U-17 Women’s World Cup hosts Azerbiajan, seeing them eliminated, with Chinwendu
Ihezuo playing a part in eight of them.

Nigeria’s Flamingoes coach, Peter Dedevbo had said before
the match that his girls were not under any form of pressure and would beat
Azerbaijan convincilingly after drawing 1-1 with Canada in their opening match.

Right from the off the game was being played almost
exclusively in the hosts’ half, so it was little surprise when the first goal
came. Chinwendu Ihezuo capitalising after Madel Effiom’s cross cannoned
fortuitously off the bar to tap in from a yard out.

Three minutes later it was 2-0, Oluchi Ofoebu squaring from
inside the box to see Halimatu Ayinde squeeze her first under Aytaj Sharifova.

It was clear the hosts couldn’t handle Nigeria’s pace or
physicality, and a third came when Effiom once again crossed for Ihezuo, who
laid the ball off for Tessy Biahwo to fire from the edge of the box.

Ayinde then made one and scored her second, lay the first on
for Aminat Yakubu before Ihezuo turned provide.

Ihezuo then doubled own tally, Yakubu crossing for her to
put in at the far post. Ayinde missed the chance to complete her hat-trick when
missing an untended goal, but her pass on 37 minutes saw Ihezuo complete hers.

Nigar Jalilli had two chances to score for the hosts, one
drawing a fantastic save from an otherwise unworked Gift Andy.

The tune didn’t change after half-time, Ihezuo netting her
fourth after Ebere Okoye’s neat through-ball. Substitute Joy Bokiri then got in
on the act, converting Ayinde’s cross.

Ihezuo got her fifth, rising to head Biahwo’s deep
free-kick, before roles reversed as the midfielder curled an effort into the
bottom corner for the final goal.

Meanwhile, France netted the quickest equaliser in FIFA U-17
Women’s World Cup history to draw 1-1 with Korea DPR and keep their hopes of
escaping Group B alive.

Korea DPR knew a win would take them through following their
11-0 victory over Gambia, but this was a much tighter affair as both sides were
cautious not to gift the opposition an early opportunity.

After 15 minutes the game saw a flurry of action, first with
Ri Un Sim – who bagged three against Gambia – testing Romane Bruneau in the
French goal after being fed by Kim Hyang Mi. Choe Chung Bok heading wide soon
after.

France responded, firing long-distance efforts from the feet
of Lea Declercq and Candice Gherbi, but Rim Young Hwa wasn’t overly troubled.
The game then fell back into its more sterile pattern after the mid-point of
the half.

It was a different game after the break though, both sides
kicked up a gear and Declerq fired the first real effort, forcing Rim into a
fine save. On 59 minutes, however, the Koreans were ahead, Ri slotting past
Bruneau after a fine pass by Kim Phyong Hwa.

Their celebrations couldn’t have been much more short-lived
though, France striking back 80 seconds later. It came from Kadidiatou Diani,
heading into the far corner from Noemie Carage’s cross.

But neither side could find a winner, largely thanks to
Bruneau denying Ri Kyong Hyang in a one-on-one 12 minutes from time.