By Eniola Olatunji.
Defending champions, Japan survived the scare of their lives as the team could only defeat France 5-3 in a game of death after playing 3-3 at full time to get into the Semis of the world U20 FEMALE football tournament in Costa Rica early this morning Nigerian time.
Freezer who lost the first shot in the penalty shootout will forever find it difficult to forgive herself for that missed kick gave the match to Japan at the stadium in Alajuela before 2,979 fans in the match handled by Ref Emikar Calderas of Venezuela whereas Japan scored all their five shots.
It was 2-2 at regular time as Folquet opened the score sheet for France at 15 minutes; Yamamoto equalised for Japan via penalty at 33 minutes; Hamano put Japan ahead at 48 minute and fleet footed Mbakem-Nairo equalised for France at the 84th minute.
So the match went into extra time where two more goals were scored, first for France in 110 minutes and a stylish penalty kick from Fujino saved the night for Japan – 3-3 at full time.
The Japanese were better ball holders having 59% to 41% possession and 577 to 401 passes. But the French girls were more of a threat with 12 shots on target to 3 of the Japanese; 7 corners to 2 and with their 16 foul calls to 10 it showed the French girls were rough players just the same way they played Nigeria to become second from group C to qualify to play Japan that emerged tops from group D.
The semi final settings show that Brazil will play Japan on Friday morning at 03:00 hours after Spain would have met conquerors of the Falconets of Nigeria, Netherlands at 23:30 hours of Thursday.
Nigeria bowed to Netherlands 0-2 in the quarter final after the country lost a vital World Heavyweight boxing bout through Anthony Joshua and a kick boxing encounter though Kamaru.
