By Daily Sports on October 21, 2015

Nigeria and Korea Republic early this morning emerged as the first qualifiers for the knockout stages of the second round of group-stage matches of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. It was a day of breakthrough achievements all round, such as the first goal from a free-kick and the fastest goal of the tournament so far.

In Group A, hosts Chile were no match for defending champions Nigeria, who struck twice in the early stages at the Estadio de Sausalito. It took only 25 seconds for Nigeria to get on the scoreboard in the match played from midnight. In fact, Samuel Chukwueze struck so quickly that many fans were still taking their seats. It was the fastest goal of Chile 2015 to date, and the third fastest in the history of the U-17 event, behind the efforts by the Brazilian pair of Fabinho (nine seconds in 2007) and Celso (14 seconds in 2005).

The Africans then continued to press, eventually running out 5-1 winners versus a Chilean team that, despite tremendous support from the home crowd, struggled to compete against Coach Emmanuel Amuneke’s boys, who romped to a 5-1 win. Nigeria now have six points from two games.

Samuel Chukwueze justified his inclusion in the starting line up as he scored a brace and was brought down three times by Chile defenders for penalties. He had opened the scoring in the first minute of the game when he finished off Victor Osinhem’s through ball.

Chukwueze was fouled in the 18-yard box by Juan Jose Soriano in the 16th minute and Kelechi Nwakali converted the spot kick for the second goal in the 17th minute.

The rampaging Chukwueze completed a brace when he again made hay off the great work he started in the 61st minute to give Nigeria a 3-0 lead.

Gangling striker Victor Osimhen then made it 4-0 for Nigeria in the 66th minute from the penalty spot after Chukwueze was brought down inside the box.

Chile captain Allende scored his side’s consolation goal in the 81st minute.

However, the Eaglets were not done yet as Osimhen completed a brace in the 86th minute to make it 5-1.

Captain Nwakali wasted the chance for the sixth goal when he fired wide over the bar from the penalty spot in the 89th minute after Chukwueze was fouled.

Besides Chukwueze, goalkeeper Akpan Udoh was also heroic courtesy of several point-blank saves to deny Chile goals.

He stopped Diego Soto’s shot in the fifth minute and he was again on hand to pull off a big save in the 30th minute.

In the 50th minute, Akpan punched away Allende’s shot from a tight angle for corner.

Substitute Funsho Bamigboye was sent off in the 84th minute for an off-the-ball foul on a Chile player.

There was an explosion of joy as soon as the final whistle sounded, with Nigerian ’keeper Akpan Udoh demonstrating his delight by lifting the referee up into the air.

(FIFA.com/MTNFootball.com)

The Results

Chile 1-5 Nigeria (Group A)

USA 2-2 Croatia (Group A)

England 0-1 Brazil (Group B)

Korea Republic 1-0 Guinea (Group B)

•Photo shows the Eaglets celebrating the thrashing of hosts Chile . . . early this morning.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 21, 2015

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