Colombia 2024: Falconets lose 1-3 to Germany in Group D

The Falconets missed many good scoring chances, especially in the first half, and Germany scored twice in the last half to beat Nigeria 3-1.
 
On Wednesday night in Bogotá, the Falconets, the under-20 women's national team from Nigeria, lost their second group match against Germany, 1-3. This tournament is currently taking place.
 
Chiamaka Okwuchukwu scored a close-range goal in the second half to level the score after Germany grabbed the lead with a header from 17-year-old Alara Sehitler in the 17th minute. But near the hour mark, Germany's advantage was regained by Sehitler, and Sarah Ernst scored a third goal in stoppage time to secure the victory.
 
Germany moved on to the next round after securing first place in Group D with this win. Nigeria, however, needs a win over Venezuela in their last group encounter on Saturday to have any chance of advancing.
 
Chris Danjuma's Nigerian squad squandered several scoring opportunities that may have changed the game's result. The striker Okwuchukwu escaped her defenders in the second minute, but the German goalkeeper produced a miraculous save with her right foot.
 
There was no match in which Germany's aerial threat wasn't there. Marie Steiner came close to doubling Germany's advantage in the 28th minute, missing the target by a hair's breadth from five meters away. Just one minute after that, Flourish Sabastine of Nigeria sent a good cross in from the left side of the field, but Okwuchukwu was just unable to reach it.
 
Nigeria was not immune to defensive mistakes either. After goalkeeper Shukura Bakare and defender Shukurat Oladipo miscommunicated in the 30th minute, Philomina Yina produced a crucial block. Lisa Baum had another chance for Germany in the 36th minute, but she missed the target from close range. Another golden opportunity for Nigeria was squandered as Rofiat Imuran's effort flew straight at Germany goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk just before halftime.
 
Okwuchukwu scored a good chance to equalize early in the second half when Adamczyk and Germany's Jella Veit got mixed up. Germany's second goal was a result of some sloppy defence; in the 62nd minute, Sehitler converted a cross that Cora Zicai had sent in after outmuscling Nigerian captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem. The first goal for Germany was scored when Zicai defeated Ohaegbulem, and this was a reflection of it.
 
Okwuchukwu had a fleeting moment of glory a minute later when she believed she had equalized the score, but the referee deemed her shot offside. Germany kept pressing Nigeria's defence despite a tactical substitute by Coach Danjuma in the 70th minute, who sent in Opeyemi Ajakaye to replace Imuran.
 
Replace with Zicai headed Sophie Nachtigall's cross over the bar in the 75th minute after she had gone past Ohaegbulem. Okwuchukwu attempted a weak effort from inside the penalty area in the 83rd minute.
 
Sarah Ernst, another replacement for the game, scored Germany's third goal in the second minute of extra time, ensuring the win for her team. 
 
While the Germans revelled on the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo field, Coach Danjuma had the task of strengthening Nigeria's defence, especially on the left side, from which Germany scored three goals. The team's offensive effectiveness was the deciding element in whether they earned a point or lost. Therefore, he must also figure out how to improve that.

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