High-flying Eaglets whip Uruguay 2-0

Three-time champions Golden Eaglets
advanced to their seventh FIFA U-17
World Cup semi-final after they overcame
stubborn Uruguay 2-0 on Saturday in
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
It was a revenge of sorts for the Nigerian
side as the South Americans had earlier
defeated the Super Eagles and the Flying
Eagles at this year’s Confederations Cup
and the U-20 World Cup respectively.
With the win, Eaglets are the only African
team left in the tournament after
Argentina cruised past Cote d’Ivoire 2-1
in another last eight clash in Sharjah.
Tunisia and Morocco had earlier exited
the tournament in the round of 16.
Taiwo Awoniyi was the hero for Nigeria
this time as his brace saw the Eaglets
through against a highly coordinated and
technical Uruguay side.
Uruguay were dominant early on and
could have even grabbed the curtain
raiser had the inspirational Leandro
Otormin converted Enrique Etcheverry’s
cross in the sixth minute.
Manu Garba’s boys, who managed to
curtail their opponents, sprung into life in
the 18th minute in customary fashion.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who has five goals to
his name at the tournament, turned
provider as Awoniyi latched onto his
perfectly weighted pass from midfield to
shoot past goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo.
Uruguay took control again but keeper
Dele Alampasu saved Mendez and
Otormin’s powerful long range efforts.
Eaglets came back from the break better
with Uruguay holding on but the young
Nigerians finally sealed the match in the
79th minute with Iheanacho once more
the provider.
Chidiebere Nwakali’s pass found the
No.10 on the edge of the box and the
impressive player found his way into the
box before passing across goal, amidst a
sea of Uruguayan legs, for Awoniyi to
drive home for Nigeria’s second, and his
third of the tournament.
Even the Uruguayans knew it was over as
keeper Cardozo and the rest of the team
all wore long faces after the backbreaking
goal.
They though put up a spirit fight for a
consolation but it never came, as
Alampasu saved a close range effort from
Franco Acosta a minute into added time.
The Eaglets will now play Sweden, who
held them to a 3-3 draw in the group
stage, in the semifinal in Dubai on
Tuesday while defending champions
Mexico and Argentina clash in Abu Dhabi.

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