International Friendly: Super Falcons edge Haiti
Nigeria women's national football team defeated the women's national football team of Haiti in an international friendly match in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Super Falcons won the encounter by two goals to nil at the Emir Sports Complex.
Goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala helped the Nigerian team overcome the Haitians after 90 minutes.
The Falcons started the tie with all intent to score as early as possible with Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade leading the fire force of the Nigerian team to score.
The Barcelona Femeni star thought she had scored in the 22nd minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The search for a goal continued as Ajibade's effort six minutes later hit the woodwork.
However, it will not take long for the goal to come as Esther Okoronkwo struck the opener for her team with a brilliant free kick to have the score line read 1-0 in favour of Nigeria in the 40th minute.
Ajibade almost made it two at the dead of the half, but her effort went wide as the Falcons walked off the pitch at the end of the first phase leading by a goal to nil.
The second half continued on the same pedestal just like the first half with more drive to score for the team in green.
However, it took Stade de Reims defender, Demehin Oluwatosin to clear a goal bound effort to keep the score in Nigeria's advantage in the 55th minute.
Three minutes later, Oshoala doubled the lead for the Falcons from a goal mouth scramble after a corner kick.
First half goal scorer, Okoronkwo left the scene for squad returnee, Desire Oparanozie in the 65th minute to increase the fire power of the Nigerian team upfront.
The Haitians came close to reducing the deficit two minutes later, but goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie was up to the task to save that one.
The goal the Haitians sought finally came in the 75th minute as they capitalised on a defensive bleep from Nigeria to pull one back.
A double save by Nnadozie saved the blushes of the Falcons for what would have been an equalizer toward the 78th minute.
Oshoala and Oparanozie tried to combine to restore the two-goal lead some minutes later, but to no avail.
At the end, the Nigerian team stayed strong to win the tie by two goals to one. The Nigerian team prepare next for New Zealand in their next friendly match on Tuesday.
By Uche Dozie
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