Lena Petermann’s extra time goal lifted Germany past Nigeria and to its third U-20 Women’s World Cup final. (Getty Images)
MONTREAL, Canada — Lena Petermann’s goal in extra time lifted Germany past Nigeria, 1-0 in extra time in the U-20 Women’s World Cup final on Sunday at Olympic Stadium. The triumph is is Germany’s third, tying the European country for the most all-time with the United States.
Germany also defeated Nigeria on home soil in the 2010 final, winning 2-0.
Petermann found the breakthrough eight minutes into extra time. Pauline Bremer stole the ball off Nigeria defender Dladys Abasi on the right flank, dribbled to the endline and crossed it to an open Bremer, who tucked it into the net with her right foot against the run of play.
“It seems so unreal,” Petermann said of the victory. “I can’t believe it, I can’t realize it, but it’s unbelievable.”
Nigeria had most of the chances throughout regulation, none better than in the 85th minute. Nigeria forward Loveth Ayila touched a ball already headed into the goal and was called offside. Germany goalkeeper Meike Kämper could only push Oshoala’s initial shot back in front of her, allowing Chinwendu Ihezuo to head the ball toward an empty net. But as it bounced over the line, Ayila smashed it into the net with her right foot foot for emphasis, and was deemed offside.
After the match, Nigeria coach Peter Dedevbo twice declined to specifically discuss the offside call, saying people wouldn’t like what he has to say about it.
“I’ve not spoken to the girls yet but I will tell them to take this defeat hard and learn from it because we lost this game due to tactical indiscipline,” he said. “We had a great opportunity to win a World Cup with the chances we had in the first half, but we threw that chance away.”
Dedevbo said that he did not speak to his players after the match and did not plan to speak to them until Monday.
“I don’t want to say anything to them,” he said. “I might say something I don’t want to say. Tomorrow I will talk to them, when it’s calm.”
[MORE: France defeats Korea DPR for third place, coach declares it success]
Oshoala and Ayila got in each other’s way in the first half, when what may have otherwise been a routine tap-in was blazed over the bar from 12 yards out as both players swung at the ball just before halftime. Oshoala, who blew past German defenders all night, also missed an empty net from an acute anglein the 22nd minute after capitalizing on a mistake by German defender Margarita Gidion.
“I will tell my girls to take this defeat hard,” Dedevbo said. “We had a great opportunity to win a World Cup with the chances we had in the first half, but we threw that chance away.”
Germany’s chances were more scattered, but also went begging. Sara Däbritz sent back-to-back free kicks into the box toward Bremer’s head in the 64th and 69th minutes, but Bremer missed the first on a wide-open chance and the second was cleared for a corner kick.
“The game today was crazy like all the other games we played,” Germany coach Maren Meinert said. “The thing that was important is that we not only played well offensively, but defensively.”
Bremer, Däbritz and Petermann combined up top form most of Germany’s chances in the match.
Nigeria goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii came up big when called upon in the 78th minute, smothering Petermann’s attempt to poke in a Bremer through ball.
“We did a really good job,” Petermann said. “We are three different player types. I’m the person who saves the ball and lays it back, and Bremer she always goes for the long ball.”
Bremer earned the Silver Boot and Däbritz the Bronze Boot with five goals apiece. Oshoala won the Golden Boot with seven goals in six matches, and she won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
