U-20 FOOTBALL

Flying Eagles avenge 36-year Italian defeat to fly into Round of 16

Published

1 year ago

May 24, 2023

Apart from giving the Nigerian side the leadership of Group D of the on-going FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina, the 2-0 defeat of Italy meant that the the Flying Eagles have avenged a similar defeat that Italy inflicted on the class of 1987 Flying Eagles in Concepcion, Chile.

The 2-0 win has practically put the Flying Eagles into the Round of 16, even if they lose to Brazil and Italy beat Dominican Republic in a possible scenario that could lead to a tie-breaker as the three would have finished at six-point apiece.

They will still qualify as one of the best third placed teams. In a group that cuts the replica of Group B of Chile 87, the only change is the presence of Dominican Republic as against Canada.

In contrast to the Chile ‘87 where Nigeria lost all three group matches, they have won the two played so far. A defeat of Brazil in the last match will atone for the disaster of 1987.

The Flying Eagles have been soaring so far. They easily neutralise the offensive of the Italians which in their opening match saw they putting three into the Brazilian net early in the game.

The Wednesday’s match started with the young Azzuris dominating the possession as expected but the Flying Eagles kept it right especially at the back and wait for the counter-attack

The first half ended goalless, but the Flying Eagles came out in the second half as the stronger side.

Their dominance paid off in the 61st minute when Salim Fago Lawal’s flying header put the two-time finalists ahead.

The Italians tried to come back into the game but found the Nigerian defence difficult to penetrate. Even when the Flying Eagles tried to defend the slim lead and the Italians were in an all-out attack, the counter-breakthrough of the Flying Eagles paid off.

The Italians would had wished the match ended in regulation time. But the added eight minutes which ought to be to their advantage turned counter-productive.

Five minute into the added eight, Jude Sunday added the second goal for Nigeria to take the Italians tumbling from the first position to the third.

U-20 FOOTBALL

New champions to emerge as Uruguay, Italy contest U20 World Cup final

Published

1 year ago

June 9, 2023

Kunle Solaja

Uruguay and Italy will play the final match of the U20 World Cup holding in Argentina. Uruguay beat Israel 1-0 while Italy defeated Korea Republic 2-1 in their respective semi-final matches played on Thursday night.

It is the first time that both countries will be playing the final match. Twelve countries have won the cup in the past.

Argentina with six titles and Brazil with five are the most winners followed by Portugal and Serbia with two victories.

The other eight have a title each. They are Ghana, Russia, Spain, Germany and England. The remaining are France, England and Ukraine.

In Thursday’s semi-finals, goals from Cesare Casadei and Simone Pafundi secured Italy the 2-1 win over Korea Republic.

In the earlier semi-finals, a predator’s goal from Anderson Duarte grabbed Uruguay victory over Israel.

The final match will be played on Sunday night.

U-20 FOOTBALL

Ladan Bosso: Twice beaten in U20 World Cup quarter finals after extra time

Published

1 year ago

June 4, 2023

Kunle Solaja

What a cruel fate for Flying Eagles’ coach, Ladan Bosso at the quarter finals stage of the U20 World Cup in the Americas.

Sunday night after-extra-time loss to Korea Republic was not the first time he experienced the cruel fate.

Flashback to 16 years ago in Canada. His Flying Eagles held on gamely in their quarter-final duel with Chile at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Scores at regulation time was 0-0. Then the match moved to extra time. Thereafter things fell apart and the centre could not hold.

A team that held the Chileans to 0-0 for 90 minutes suddenly fell like the Biblical Wall of Jericho.

At the extra time, Bosso’s team crumbled miserably to a 4-0 defeat.

Again, his team has had to suffer another extra time defeat at the quarter-finals.

U-20 FOOTBALL

How debutants, Israel sealed historic win over five-time winners, Brazil

Published

1 year ago

June 3, 2023

Kunle Solaja

Debutants, Israel will face either USA or Uruguay in the semi-finals of the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup after they eliminated five-time champions, Brazil.

Israel have become the first debutants to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA U-20 World Cup since Senegal in 2015.

An exquisite solo goal scored by Dor Turgeman saw debutants Israel come from behind to defeat Brazil 3-2 in an instant FIFA U-20 World Cup classic.

Israel will now play the USA-Uruguay winners in La Plata, while A Seleção will have to pack their bags for the journey home. Israel had the better of the first half, but Brazil had its best chance.

Following fine play from Savio down the right, Marquinhos’s effort from the back post, yards out, was kept out by the leg of Tomer Zarfati.

Marcos Leonardo’s excellent strike with his weaker left foot put Brazil ahead at the start of the second, but Anan Khalaili equalised with the header of this tournament.

Kaique then pulled off a superb save to deny Turgeman and send the game to extra time. Extra time held more drama and goals than your average 90-minute match.

Andrey Santos’s exquisite flick set up Matheus Nascimento to restore Brazil’s lead, but Hamza Shibli turned a cross in at the back post immediately to level things up again.

The decisive moment came at the end of the first half of extra time when Turgeman dribbled through Brazil’s defense before unleashing an unstoppable curler past Kaique.

An incredible second period of extra time saw Israel fail to score from the penalty spot twice, but Ofir Haim’s side were able to hold on and complete an historic victory.