NAVI MUMBAI, Oct 30: Defending champions Spain won the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over first-time finalists Colombia whose campaign ended in a heartbreak after an own goal in the summit clash here on Sunday.
Spain emerged the winners after an own goal by Colombian defender Ana María Guzmán Zapata in the 82nd minute of the final at the D Y Patil Sports Stadium.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, alongside top officials from the Asian Football Federation (AFC) and All India Football Federation (AIFF), was in attendance at the venue as Spain eked out a solitary goal win and retained the title they also claimed in 2018.
Spain took the lead with Cristina’s goal, when she scored off the rebound after the Colombian goalkeeper had stopped it the first time. However, the score remained 0-0 as the goal was disallowed by a VAR review. It ruled that Cristina had touched the ball with her hand.
The two teams also met in the group phase, with Spain winning 1-0. This was European giants Spain’s second title
Earlier, Nigeria’s Flamingos defeated Germany in a thrilling third-place contest to clinch a consolatory bronze medal in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, at the DY Patil Stadium here on Sunday.
After the match ended in a 3-3 score at the end of regulation time, the contests went into a penalty shootout. The penalty then ended 3-2 in Nigeria’s favour as the team avenged their loss against the Europeans earlier in their opening fixture.
Nigeria began the match on a steady note and were rewarded when forward Opeyemi Ajakaye ended her goal drought with a brilliant 20th minute opener for the Flamingos.
The Nigerians doubled the lead three minutes into the second half of the clash after a strike by Aminat Bello.
Coach Olowookere Bankole’s girls then made it 3-0 when Etim Edidiong found the back of the net in the 63rd minute.
However, the Germans were not giving up easily. They successfully scored three goals in the last seventeen minutes of the game to take the tie to penalties.
It was the third penalty shootout for the Flamingos during the course of the tournament. (Agencies)
