By JOEL BAILEY Thursday, September 9 2010

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NIGERIA advanced closer to qualifying for the quarter-final round of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup with a deserved 2-1 win over hosts Trinidad and Tobago at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella last evening.

Francisca Ordega headed Nigeria ahead in the 28th minute, meeting a through ball from her strike partner Ngozi Okobi and scoring over the advancing Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Linfah Jones.

Midfielder Liana Hinds netted her second goal in as many matches, eight minutes later, ending off a good move with a well-taken right-footer over the Nigerian defence after their goalie Amina Abu parried an attempt from Khadidra Debesette.

And Loveth Ayila netted the winner, three minutes from full-time, meeting a cross from Winifred Eyebhoria to head into the open net, after Eyebhoria left Courtney Bahadursingh for dead on the left.

Both teams made one change apiece from their starting line-ups on Sunday, with Khadidra Debesette (half of a twin) replacing Brianna Ryce while Ayila came in for Yetunde Aluko.

Nigeria's physical strength and pace clearly bothered the Trinidad and Tobago team, especially the midfield, with their captain Oluchi Ofoegbu outstanding with her passing and movement off the ball.

Early in the piece, Ordega got a ball down the left and sent a low cross across the face of goal, but Ayila was unable to connect on the run, while Ayila received a pass from Okobi, got past left-back Patrice Vincent and forced a good save by Jones, but Vincent's weak clearance fell to Ofoegbu who crashed her long-range shot against the crossbar.

Nigeria duly took the lead six minutes later, with Trinidad and Tobago central defender Lauren Schmidt caught unawares by the speed of Ordega, who headed the ball over the advancing Jones.

Another defensive lapse resulted in an attempt by Ayila, who was alone on goal but her shot was denied by Jones.

In a rare counter-attack, led by Hinds, Trinidad and Tobago tied up the scores, as Hinds' pass to Khadidra Debesette was denied by Abu, but Hinds was on spot to connect on the loose ball and chip her right-footer over three defenders and into the far right corner.

Ayila and Ordega both had chances denied by the retreating Trinidad and Tobago defence before the half, while Jones was forced to tip overbar after Ordega skipped over a weak challenge by Vincent.

Diarra Simmons long-range free kick narrowly missed the mark, while Bahadursingh did well to head Kemi Abiodun's shot, from a Okobi right-side corner, off the line.

Khadidra Debesette's speculative shot caused panic in the Nigeria defence, while substitute Jo-Marie Lewis could have done better when she was picked out, unmarked in the penalty box, from a deep Bahadursingh freekick.

Ayila, who enjoyed herself on the right, got a pass from Ordega and forced a save, on the near post, by Jones, but another run down the flanks, this time on the left, proved costly in the dying minutes.

In their final Group “A” matches on Sunday – which will begin simultaneously at 6 pm — Trinidad and Tobago will oppose defending champs North Korea at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva (with both teams needing a win to book a quarter-final spot) while the Nigerians will battle Chile at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.

Teams –

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Linfah Jones; Lauren Schmidt (capt), Khadisha Debesette, Patrice Vincent (Jonelle Warrick 74th), Courtney Bahadursingh; Victoria Swift, Emma Abdul (Jo-Marie Lewis 46th), Kayla Taylor, Liana Hinds, Khadidra Debesette; Diarra Simmons (Brianna Ryce 84th).

NIGERIA: Amina Abu; Victoria Aidelomon, Ugo Njoku, Sarah Nnodim, Omolade Akinbiyi; Kemi Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde (Winifred Eyebhoria 44th), Loveth Ayila, Oluchi Ofoegbu (capt); Francisca Ordega, Ngozi Okobi.