Senegal defeated Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 2-1 in their round of 16 clash on Monday night at the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.
The encounter at Lodz saw Senegal take the kick-off and in the 10th minute, Tijani came close to netting the opener after winning a header in the penalty box, but his effort was only good for the roof of the net.
After half hour of football, injured-Maxwell Effiom was replaced by Sor, with scores still 0-0.
Four minutes later, Sor came close to open scores, but his effort was saved by the Senegalese.
However, on the 36th minute, Amadou Sagna netted the game’s opening goal to hand Senegal the lead, with the scoreboard reading Senegal 1-0 .
On the dot of 45 minutes, Flying Eagles chance to level scores through Ikouwem’s free-kick was blocked, but against the run of play, Senegal doubled their lead through Ibrahima Niane to go into the break with a two-goal lead.
In the second-half, the Flying Eagles improved on their first-half performance and on the 50th minute mark, Nigeria reduced the deficit through Aniekeme Okon, who deflected Makanjuola’s free-kick to make the scores – Senegal 2 Nigeria 1.
Despite other scoring chances for the Flying Eagles late in the encounter, Senegal’s junior Teranga Lions held on, to claim the contest with a 2-1 win at the blast of the final whistle.
The result sees Senegal progress to the quarterfinal of the U20 World Cup while Nigeria head back home.
Meanwhile, Sergio Quintero’s sumptuous strike was sandwiched by two penalty kicks as Ecuador came from behind to beat Uruguay 3-1 and reach the FIFA U-20 World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Ecuador lost both of their meetings with Uruguay en route to conquering the South American U-20 Championship in February.
And the same result appeared on the cards on Monday when Ronald Araujo put Uruguay ahead early on after Ecuador failed to clear a right-wing free-kick.
However, Ecuador began to monopolise possession and, around the half-hour mark, they were awarded their third penalty kick of Poland 2019 when Ezequiel Busquets bundled Alexander Alvarado over.
Alvarado took it himself, doing what Jordan Rezabala and Leonardo Campana had failed to do.
He calmly passed the ball low into the middle of the net as Franco Israel dived to his right.
In the 65th minute, Ecuador goalkeeper Wellington Ramirez did well to stop Darwin Nunez’s close-range toe-poke.
But his opposite number could do nothing to prevent Sergio Quintero’s firm, low drive from finding the bottom corner 10 minutes later.
Ecuador were awarded a penalty kick late on when Bruno Mendez handled a goal-bound shot, and Gonzalo Plata made no mistake from 12 yards.
They will go on to face either of France or the United States (U.S.) on Saturday in Gdynia in the quarter-finals.
