U-17 World Cup: Golden Eaglets Cruise Into Semis …Thrash Brazil 3-0 …To Meet Mexico Or Ecuador, Thursday

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets celebrating their victory over Brazil at the quarter finals of the ongoing U-17 World Cup in Chile, yesterday

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets reached the semi-finals of the FIFA U17 World Cup when they dumped three-time champions Brazil 3-0 last night.
The four-time world champions will now wait on the winners of Monday’s quarterfinal between Mexico and Ecuador to slug it out for a place in the championship final in Chile.
Brazil had looked bright in the opening stages, either finding Akpan Udoh in fine form in the Nigerian net or hitting their opportunities off target, with Rogerio and Evander two of the culprits. A Seleção were made to rue those missed opportunities when the lethal Osimhen extended his lead at the top of the goalscoring charts. John Lazarus crossed from the Nigerian right and the Nigerian No9 headed in, via a deflection off Eder Militao.
Moments later, Nigeria doubled their lead, Osimhen instrumental once more. The forward hooked a bouncing ball back over his shoulder, with Michael following in. The ball bounced up off the turf and past Juliano. The Brazilian No1 was deceived by another bounce just four minutes later, as Anumudu hit a left-footed drive from distance. The effort skipped off the turf, and past the stopper, who was visibly unhappy at not keeping the shot out.
The semi-final, the seventh for Nigeria in this competition, will be at Concepcion on Thursday.
After a shaky start, the Eaglets scored within a five-minute spell to dazzle the 11-time South American champions in front of a 10,000-strong crowd.
The Samba Boys were all over the pitch in the first 10 minutes of the game, but failed to put away the several chances they created.
Defending champions Nigerian then fought back and tournament’s leading scorer Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 29th minute with a header of John Lazarus’ cross from the right. It was his eighth goal of the campaign.
A minute later, Kingsley Michael made it 2-0 from inside the box off Osimhen’s acrobatic assist.
Leftback Udochukwu Anamundu increased the tally to 3-0 in the 34th minute.
In the 16th minute, Lukman Zakari’s header bounced off the ground and went over the bar.
Leandro headed off target Henrique ‘s cross on 21 minutes and a minute later, Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze fired wide from 19 yards.
After half hour, Udoh Akpan saved a Mulitao’s effort, before the Nigeria goalkeeper kept out  Evander’s shot five minutes later.
In the second half, Brazil expectedly chased the game, but they hardly threatened a well-organised Nigeria defence.
Osimhen was denied by Brazil goalkeeper Juliano in the 86th and 90 minutes.
Late in the game, Chukwueze came close to stretching Nigeria’s lead, before Udoh kept out a dangerous Brazil free kick by Evander.
Meanwhile, Golden Eaglets winger Funsho Bamigboye will miss Thursday’s U17 World Cup semi-final after he was cautioned in the quarterfinal against Brazil Sunday night for his “hand of god’ effort.
Bamigboye was also booked in Nigeria’s 6-0 crushing of Australia in the Round of 16 and will thus sit out the semis.
Coach Emmanuel Amuneke will therefore have to ring a replacement for the lively forward against either Mexico or Ecuador on Thursday in Concepcion.
He was red carded in the Eaglets second game of the tournament when they thrashed hosts Chile 5-1.