Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala (pictured above) was voted the Most Valuable Player/Best Player at the 2014 FIFA U20 World Cup in Canada. She was awarded the Golden Ball award and Golden Boot having scored seven goals and provided two assists.
French midfielder Griedge Mbock-Bathy was awarded the Silver Ball while her compatriot Claire Lavogez, was the Bronze Ball winner. Read more below:
Germany defeated Nigeria 1-0 to win the 2014 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup played on Sunday night in Montreal.
An extra time goal from Lena Petermann were all the European side needed to lift their third trophy at the expense of Peter Dedevbo’s ladies that came into the game with intention of avenging their defeat to the European side in the final of the 2010 edition.
Nigeria dominated the first half, creating the better and more numerous chances with tournament top scorer Asisat Oshoala the main culprit.
She missed her first golden opportunity after 22 minutes after outpacing the German defence and rounding Kamper in a stunning display of speed and strength. However, she could not find the finishing touch, managing only to shoot into the side-netting from an acute angle.
Germany best effort come from a Lina Magull free-kick comfortably saved by Sandra Chichi in the 17th minute.
More chances came the way of the Falconets but could not convert them. Oshoala missed another glorious chance seven minutes before the break. She flashed wide an opportunity to put their side ahead after Chiwendo Ihezuo had done well to snatch possession from Rebecca Knaak at the byline and cut the ball back.
On resumption of the second half, the Falconets got more of the ball possession and yet, could not get past the German goalkeeper who was named player-of-the-match.
The Europeans also spurned their opportunities, with Pauline Bremer stealing in unmarked on a Sara Dabritz free-kick only to head wastefully wide. The Super Falconets then had to call on the bravery of their keeper, with the Nigerian goalkeeper racing from her line to dive at the feet of Lena Petermann, picking up a bruised jaw in the process.
Play still tended to rage towards the other end, though, and with five minutes remaining Nigeria had the ball in the net only for their celebrations to be cut short by the assistant referee’s flag. That left extra time to settle this pulsating affair and, after Oshoala had again gone close for Nigeria, it was Germany who found a breakthrough.
Petermann scored it, slotting home from six yards, but the plaudits went to the energetic Bremer, who had robbed left-back Gladys Abasi before driving towards the byline and delivering the perfect cutback.
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