Nigeria star Osinachi Ohale celebrates winning debut for Pachuca against Atlas

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria senior women’s National team defender, Osinachi Ohale is on cloud nine after her new team, Pachuca recorded a 4-3 win over Atlas during the player’s first match for the Mexican club on Thursday.

The former AS Roma defender who had joined the Mexican side from Spanish top-flight outfit, Deportivo Alaves after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup had to wait awhile to play her first game which was a keenly contested encounter as she started the game from the bench.

It took Valeria Razo’s 36th-minute own goal to break the deadlock for Pachuca at the Estadio Miguel Hidalgo, Pachuca.

Two minutes later, Veronica Corral doubled the lead for the host while Esbeydi Salazar made it 3-0 ten minutes into the second half.

Corral’s second goal of the game increased Apachuca’s lead to four in the 57th minute before Atlas’s last moments scare.

Maria Perez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 66th minute before Brenda Ceren’s goal in the 75th minute made it 4-2.

Claudia Ibarra’s goal in the additional minutes of the second half from the penalty spot couldn’t prevent Pachuca from coasting home to a slim win.

Ohale who scored Super Falcons’ second goal during a 3-2 win over Australia in the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup replaced Yanin Madrid in the 68th minute and took just two minutes before receiving his first yellow card.

 Pachuca occupy the 12th position on the log with ten points after eight games ahead of their next game against Mazatlan FC on September 5, 2023.