Falconets’ hero, Helen Ukaonu last gap shot helped the team salvage a valuable equalizer in the 79th minute to draw level with the USA U-20 team, says they will not give Columbia breathing space describing their dethroning of the defending Champions, USA as a result of hardwork.
The young Nigerian, who is making her second appearance in the championship revealed in a chat with africansportsdigest.com this morning that the team has stepped up a gear now and they are looking forward to making good use of the opportunity.
“We’re aiming for the best now having made it to this round. It was a big game for us as the USA came out smoking and were really in high mood in this competition, therefore we’re trying to make new records like the Colombians, who are first timers. We want to be in the final,” she said.
Her timely goal dragged the match into extra time which did not produce any more goal, as both teams had to settle for the mandatory five penalties which the USA missed two and Nigeria scored all four kicks taken to lift themselves to the Semi-finals for the first time at this level.
Ukaonu earlier told Africansportsdigest.com immediately after the match that she just decided to aim at the goal after the ball was rolled to her off a free kick: “We all wanted to win despite trailing 1-0 till the 78th minute. It was a difficult game not because we could not lift our game beyond the USA’s rhythm but somehow psychologically when you’re playing against a team of such strength, things just get awry and you make mistakes.
“It’s enough trouble for one day, we’re going back to celebrate in our camp and plan ahead against Columbia knowing what is in store for us. But this was a great feat,” she added.
The sensational player hopes to see her colleague improved on their game stressing that they want to add speed to their free flowing football as they would likely score more goals in counterattacking situations.
Tags: BY Christiana Ampeh