NIGERIA U17 6-0 AUSTRALIA U17: OSIMHEN’S TREBLE SENDS EAGLETS TO QUARTER FINAL

The red-hot striker scored thrice as goals from Nwakali, Essien and
Chukwueze combined to decimate Tony Vidmar's boys
Nigeria reached the Fifa U17 World Cup quarter finals after
annihiliating Australia 6-0 in their second round game in Vina Del Mar
on Thursday morning.
Complete with the presence of Funsho Bamgboye and Udochukwu Anumudu
who missed out of the Golden Eaglets' last group game owing to cards
suspension, the Joeys were torn apart by the ruthless Nigerians at the
Estadio Sausalito.
Victor Osimhen bagged a hat trick and is now the outright leading
scorer in the competition with seven goals from four games as Emmanuel
Amuneke's lads scored twice in the first half, then added four in the
second half to set up a last four encounter against Brazil in Vina Del
Mar on Sunday.
Osimhen set the ball rolling with his fifth of the tournament in the
22nd minute by bursting forward with pace and power on the left,
before turning his defender and sliding the ball past goalkeeper Duro
Dragicevic.
Australia had no answer to Nigeria's passing and movement as Kelechi
Nwakali scored the second from the penalty spot four minutes later
after Bamgboye was brought down in the box recklessly by two onrushing
defenders.
However, Cameron Joice almost pulled a goal back for the Joeys, but
failed to convert on a miserable night for the Australians.
In the second half, the Auusies looked incoherent as they gave the
ball away far too easily, while Nigeria were playing with a swagger
and got their third through Osimhen in the 73rd minute as he pounced
on a cross which Dragicevic had failed to clear.
The lanky 16-year-old striker completed his hat trick six minutes
later when he pushed aside the Aussie defender and shot into the roof
of the net past the hapless goalkeeper.
Tony Vidmar's lads were stunned, but far worse was to come as the
Eaglets capitalized on more shambolic defending to score two more
goals before the end of the game.
First, substitute Essien was on hand to head home from close range
before Chukwueze 's missile completed the rout against the side who
came into the game with the ambition of breaking their jinx against
the defending champions.
Nigeria were a class apart and the Aussie fans sportingly applauded as
they became the first team to score six goals in a Fifa U17 World Cup
knock out phase as they attempt to win the trophy for the fifth time.
The Golden Eaglets, who have now scored 14 goals, have set up a date
with Brazil in the quarter finals on Sunday.