The United States’ campaign at the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India came to an end on Friday with a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Nigeria following their 1-1 quarterfinal draw at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, according to CONCACAF.
CONCACAF said Nigeria grabbed the opening goal in the 26’ via the penalty spot, “but the US fought right back and were unlucky to not have found an equalizer in the 35’, when a Lauren Martinho shot skirted through traffic in front of goal and bounced off the post.”
The US continued to mount the pressure and was handsomely rewarded in the 40’, when Onyeka Gamero made a surging run forward before flipping a pass out wide right to Amalia Villarreal, whose right-footed shot took a slight deflection and rippled the back of the Nigerian net to make it 1-1, CONCACAF said.
It said the momentum stayed with the US in the second half.
But CONCACAF said the US had two “gilt-edged chances to grab a winning score through Gamero, but neither found the target.”
In the end, matters had to be settled from the penalty spot, CONCACAF said, with Nigeria finishing with the upper hand, winning 4-3.
