Chidi Harmony has expressed her joy after she scored one of the goals on Saturday night as the Flamingos booked a quarter final ticket after Nigeria defeated Ecuador 4-0 at the ongoing FIFA U17 Women World Cup in Dominican Republic, Sports247 reports.
The match which was played at CFC Stadium, Santiago de los caballeros the Nigeria U17 girls were perfect on the night , and laid down the marker as a contender for the diadem with another sterling performance on the night.
Goals from Shakirat Moshood (28, 90+6) who got a brace and her third in the competition, Harmony Chidi (54′ )and Peace Effiong (66′) separated the two sides as Nigeria booked her place in the quarter final.
Chidi Harmony who grabbed the player of the match award told FIFA.com after the match how delighted she was, after being able to overcome the pressures that came with 13 goals in six marches during the African qualifiers.
The skillful and pacy strike failed to score in the first game despite Nigeria scoring four against New Zealand but she came through in the game against Ecuador by scoring her first goal of the tournament with a powerful right-footed strike in the 54th minute.
” I’m very happy. I don’t know how to express this.”
” It’s joy for me right now because in the last game, when the goal didn’t come, my coach calmed me down.”
” He believes in me so much that I can do it, even when it’s not coming, so I appreciate him for that and bless God for it.” Harmony Chidi told FIFA media after the match.
While Ecuador attacker, Domenica Arboleda, who fired blank in the match, admitted their struggle in trying to contain the pacy forward and her teammates.
“We knew that Nigeria were going to be a tough opponent, they have very fast players”.
” We came in prepared but it didn’t work. But that’s football and now we have to focus on the game against New Zealand.”
Nigeria next game is against the host with pride as stake for the Flamingos while the Dominican Republic needed a victory to stand a chance of qualifying from the group.
Elsewhere on Saturday night Spain thrashed Korea Republic 5-0 to join Nigeria in the quarter finals in Santo Domingo.
According to FIFA.com The Spaniards hit the front after just seven minutes when Pau Comendador headed in.
The lead was doubled just after the half hour mark as Celia Segura danced over a challenge and rifled home, before Iris Santiago tapped in for three after some penalty-box pinball in first-half stoppage time.
Three became four two minutes into the second half when Emma Moreno converted from the penalty spot.
Aiara Agirrezabala amplified the scoreline by heading home a fifth in stoppage time, but only after Alba Cerrato was sent off for a late challenge following a VAR review.
In the other results played on Saturday , host Dominican Republic picked their first ever point against New Zealand as both sides settled for a 1-1 draw.
The United States of America bounced back from their opening day loss to Spain as they defeated Colombia 2-0 to brighten their chances of making the quarter final ticket.
