AUCKLAND – New Zealand fought back from two goals down but conceded a gut-wrenching third deep into stoppage time to lose 2-3 to Nigeria in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup opener in Coquimbo, Chile on Thursday morning (NZ time).

Sublime goals from Ria Percival either side of halftime had brought New Zealand level after defensive errors twice cost the kiwis midway through the first half, but with time running out Nigerian captain Rita Chikwelu broke clear and steered the ball past an oncoming Charlotte Wood to grab three valuable World Cup points.

With England playing hosts Chile later in the day, Nigeria took an early lead in Group A while John Herdman’s side must regroup ahead of Sunday morning’s clash against the South Americans.

“Chile won’t be as big or as experienced as Nigeria, and we definitely think three points is up for grabs in that match and even against England in or final group game.”

“Nigeria were always going to be our toughest game. They’ve got a history of making quarterfinals of these tournaments and will cause lots of teams trouble.”

“They have pace and quality in the flanks and we struggled to deal with that. There’s a future Thierry Henry of the women’s game on their right and we changed our full back at half-time to try and cope. When you’re relying on pace in defence that’s our reality.

Putting the ‘Junior’ into Junior Football Ferns, Herdman started six U-17s in his walk-on eleven and introduced a seventh – diminutive playmaker Annalie Longo – with 20 minutes remaining.

“I don’t want to hide behind youth but we only had four players on the pitch who don’t have another U-20 tournament in them in two years time or even two more and we’re up against one of the most experienced teams here.”

“We’re working with players who still need to gel as a team but the team showed a lot of fight and will be disappointed to not have taken the chances to win the game.”

Looking every bit like a team that had only been together a week since nine of the squad finished New Zealand’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign, the Junior Football Ferns were guilty of giving possession away and allowing Nigeria’s pacy wingers too much time and space.

The ever-influential Chikwelu should have made the kiwis pay after 10 minutes but a brave dive from Wood forced the Olympian to blaze over the bar from five yards out.

After an early headed chance to Rosie White, New Zealand were restricted to speculative long-range efforts from Sarah McLaughlin while the African champions always looked threatening in the final third.

The opener finally came after half an hour with Sarah Michael benefiting from a poor clearance from Caitlin Campbell, who could only knock a low firm cross from Chikwelu into Michael’s path.

Four minutes later, New Zealand were two goals down, as Ogonna Chukwudi made space on the edge of the area to fire a shot past Wood, who should have done better with the low drive to her right.

The Junior Ferns refused to lie down though, and pulled one back with a cushioned back-post header from Percival that directed Hannah Wall’s pinpoint left-wing cross into the top corner of Charity John’s goal.

With the bit still between their teeth after halftime, New Zealand looked more dangerous in the second half and took just seven minutes to draw level in classy fashion.

With her back to goal, White knocked a neat overhead ball to Percival who took a touch to get outside her marker and laced a 20-yard bullet past John.

Percival – who went from right midfield to right fullback midway through the second period – was singled out by her coach for special praise.

“Ria with two goals was definitely a stand-out and in the end we were forced to push her back from midfield into right-back to put her experience in that part of the pitch.”

Substitute Annalie Longo almost had an immediate impact off the bench as more destructive work by Hannah Wall on New Zealand’s left flank finished with a cross that Longo blasted low and goal-ward but into the legs of a scrambling Nigerian ‘keeper.

At the other end, senior international Abby Erceg made two crucial blocks on Chikwelu in the final ten minutes while Michael put an 85th minute header wide from a metre out.

But just as New Zealand’s looked set to hold out for a hard-fought draw against the two-time U-20 quarterfinalists, Chikwelu latched on to a long-ball from substitute Helen Ukaonu and squeezed a shot off under pressure to send the West Africans to the top of Group A.

Story courtesy of NZF Media. For more visit www.nzsoccer.com

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup – Chile 2008

New Zealand (1) 2 (7. Ria PERCIVAL 42’, 52’;)

Nigeria (2) 3 (13. Sarah MICHAEL 31’; 9. Ogonna CHUKWUDI 35’; 10. Rita CHIKWELU 90+2;)

Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso

Chile

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Kick-off: 15h00 (Local Time)

Attendance:

NZL: 1. Charlotte WOOD (GK); 2. Caitlin CAMPBELL (10. Annalie LONGO 71’; 3. Anna GREEN (15.Elizabeth MILNE 46’); 4. Katie HOYLE (C); 5. Bridgette ARMSTRONG; 6. Abby ERCEG; 7. Ria PERCIVAL; 8. Betsy HASSETT; 11. Hannah WALL; 19. Sarah McLAUGHLIN (9. Renee LEOTA 63’);20. Rosie WHITE

Substitutes not used: 13. Victoria ESSON (GK); 21. Rebekah BROOK (GK);12. Chelsey WOOD; 14. Merissa SMITH;16.Briony FISHER; 17.Nicole STRATFORD. 18.Grace VINCENT

Yellow cards: 15. Elizabeth MILNE 63’;

Red cards: None

Coach: John HERDMAN (ENG)

NIG: 12. Charity JOHN (GK); 2. Margaret DIKE (17. Helen UKAONU 67’); 3. Glory IROKA; 5. Esther Eno EDEM; 7. Tawa ISHOLA (11. Bukola SAHEED 86’); 9. Ogonna CHUKWUDI; 10. Rita CHIKWELU (C); 13. Sarah MICHAEL;15.Joy JEGEDE; 16. Ulunma JEROME; 18. Rebecca Ifeoma KALU

Substitutes Not Used: 1 Marbel EGWUENU (GK); 21.Onyekachi MBALISI (GK); 4. Chioma NWABUEZE; 6. Esther MICHAEL; 8. Ebere ORJI; 14 Faustina UGWUADU; 19. Esther VICTOR; 20. Chidinma ANORUO;

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None.

Coach: Daniel EVUMENA (NGA)

Referee: Tanja SCHETT (AUT)

Assistant Referee 1: Helen CARO (SWE)

Assistant Referee 2: Anna NYSTROM (SWE)

4th official: Therese SAGNO (GUI)

Group A Standings:

P W D L GF GA Pts
Nigeria 1 1 0 0 3 2 3
Chile 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
New Zealand 1 0 0 1 2 3 0

Photos courtesy of FIFA Media/ Foto-Net