U20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
Spain finish second and meet North Korea in the quarter finals
La Rojita were beaten 2-1 by Nigeria in Sunday's final group game, losing their first game of the tournament. Pedro López's team bowed to the Africans' physical strength.
Outmuscled
Spain were subjected to a tough lesson in football just days before they contest the quarter finals of the U20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea. They went into Sunday's meeting with Nigeria top of their group with two wins from two and without having conceded a single goal, but the team collapsed against the finalists in the last edition of this tournament. Alba Redondo's sixth minute opener appeared to have set Spain on their way to victory but it didn't turn out that way; six minutes later Nigeria equalised from a set-piece - Onyebuchi taking full advantage of some clumsy defending to put the Africans back in it from a corner.
Late changes
On 72 minutes, Ihezuo sprinted onto a long pass to put the Nigerians ahead. Pedro López made three changes in the last 12 minutes, but by then it was too late. Despite the defeat, Spain end the group stage second in the group behind Japan on goal difference, and will face North Korea, the winners of Group A, in the quarter final on Thursday.