FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Orji rues over team’s exit
Remorseful Ebere Orji sent off by center referee, Avdonchenko Natalia, in the 2 – 2 Group D last matches against the young Sambas of Brazil decided at the QE11 Park, Christchurch, blamed self for ending her team’s dream of clinching one of the eight slots at the ongoing maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Orji who was bitterly sober in the encounter she shone like a million stars, said aside the two yellow cards that saw her off from the tie her teammates would have got the one more goal needed to keep their last eight ticket dream alive.
“We only needed one more goal. Now we know that missed opportunities can never be put right. Even so, I think that if we’d played with eleven players the whole game, then we would have won.”
Admitting that the nation’s campaigners missed scoring chances without apportioning blames, Orji said they would look ahead for future competitions.
“The only thing that we can do is to work hard to improve ahead of subsequent competitions,” she said.
Nigeria started the game brightly but, as against England, they were unable to make the most of their opportunities. Ebere Orji, Amarachi Okoronkwo and Ngozi Okobi all had palpable chances, but found Brazilian keeper Aline on her mettle. Instead, it was Brazil who opened the scoring on 35 minutes; Ketlen, who had impressed throughout, let fly from 20 metres to beat Nigerian keeper Marbel Egwuenu. Juliana Cardozo almost repeated the dose two minutes later, with a shot that hit the bar.
Nigeria equalized just before the break when Orji put in Okoronkwo's cross, despite an initial save from Aline. After the break, Nigeria continued to dominate, but a foul by Orji on Brazil's Thais saw the former sent off after 61 minutes, and Brazil scored eight minutes later: Rafaelle's superb free kick from the right sailed in.
Even with ten players, Nigeria continued to go on the attack, and were rewarded with an equalizer when Okoronkwo scored on 75 minutes. Nigeria continued to press for the winner, but it was not to be, and both sides now head for home.