PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Canada (0W-0D-2L, 0 points) fell for the second straight time in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, dropping a 3-1 decision to Nigeria (1-0-1, 3) after taking an early lead at Bava Park on Wednesday.
The result dropped the Canadians into last place in Group B, six points behind table-topping Spain (2-0-0, 6), a 1-0 winner over Asian champion Japan (1-0-1, 3).
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we came in with a young group of players that we wanted to expose to that environment,” said Canada head coach Daniel Worthington. “When you play a team like Nigeria, a physical, fast team that are man-marking, you know it’s going to be a difficult match, but this is the kind of experience that will really help these players in their development.”
Gabrielle Carle put the CONCACAF runner-up ahead in the 15th minute, when she found the back of the net from 12-yards out, left-footing Deanne Rose’s diagonal feed from inside the box at the left-goal line.
Nigeria equalized in the first minute of first-half stoppage time as Chinaza Uchendu converted from the penalty spot once Bianca St. George’s whistled for a handball in the box.
Joy Bokiri gave the African side a lead in the 46th minute, capitalizing on a blocked Canadian clearance inside its own box.
In the 73rd minute, Canada goalkeeper Rylee Foster kicked a backpass directly at Nigeria’s Chinwendu Ihezuo, who finished into an open net from 10 yards.
Canada will complete group play on November 20 against Japan.
