Nigeria came from behind to defeat Dominican Republic 2-1 in their FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023 Group D opener at Mendoza Stadium on Sunday. Dominican Republic was playing in their first-ever FIFA match at any level.
And it was the first-timers who took the lead after 23 minutes when Benjamin Fredrick was adjudged to have fouled Guillermo De Peno inside the area. Captain Edison Azcona took responsibility from the spot to fire home his nation’s maiden strike.
Nigeria leveled soon after, though, when goalkeeper Xavier Valdez failed to claim a long throw which De Peno inadvertently flicked into his own net. Valdez was left bloodied by the collision, but he recovered quickly to deny the dangerous Jude Sunday soon after with a fine diving save.
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The Flying Eagles continued to push in the second half and completed the comeback with 20 minutes to go, as Samson Lawal pounced on a poor Israel Boatwright back-pass to slot beyond Valdez.
The win was a good start for Nigeria, who are looking to win their first U-20 World Cup since 1989. They will face Italy in their next group game on Wednesday, while Dominican Republic will take on Brazil.
Simon Hart’s Take
Nigeria 2-1 Dominican Republic
Goals: Azcona pen (23), De Peno OG (31), Lawal (71)
It was a hard-fought win for Nigeria, but they showed great character to come from behind and secure the three points. The Flying Eagles were the better team for long periods of the game, and they will be confident of going further in the tournament.
Dominican Republic can take heart from their performance, however. They were playing in their first-ever FIFA match, and they showed a lot of courage and determination. They will be disappointed to have lost, but they will have learned a lot from the experience.
The next few days will be crucial for both teams. Nigeria will need to rest and recover ahead of their game against Italy, while Dominican Republic will need to work on their defensive shape if they are to get a result against Brazil.
It promises to be an exciting tournament, and I’m looking forward to seeing how both teams perform in their next games.
