Nigeria’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup tournament ended with a 2-1 loss as Japan claimed bronze.

Desire Oparanozie’s excellent free-kick with just under 20 minutes of play left, halved a deficit set up by Yoko Tanaka and Asuka Nishikawa, but there was to be no late show and the hosts held out for the win.

It did not look that way when the Falconets made a much brighter start.

Oparanozie’s whipped free-kick from the left evaded everyone early on, including goalkeeper Sakiko Ikeda, only to come back off the far post.

Tanaka had no such problems. Midway through the half, she unleashed a vicious volley from distance that caught Ibubeleye Whyte by surprise and almost took the goalkeeper into the net with the ball.

Nigeria looked pumped up at the break, but their spirits were deflated five minutes in.

Substitute Hanae Shibata ghosted her way past the Nigerian defence to tee up Nishikawa for a sharp finish.

It could have been three soon after, but the ball hit the far post after avoiding almost everyone, before Gloria Ofoegbu mopped up in some desperation.

As time drained down, Oparanozie came up with a goal that offered Nigeria a fighting chance. Esther Sunday won a free kick on the edge of the Japan left channel.

Oparanozie, displaying excellent technique, bent the free kick over Ikeda and under the bar.

There was to be no stirring return, and the Falconets return home with nothing.

USA upset the odds to edge Germany in a battle of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup elite. Germany had comprehensively overcome their rivals 3-0 in a Group D encounter just a fortnight ago, and went into the contest without having conceded a goal during all six matches at Japan 2012. However, a lone strike from Kealia Ohai a minute before half-time proved to be the decisive moment of the contest as USA claimed their third crown at the expense of the 2010 champions.