Revelation Cup: Late heartbreak for Nigeria in Mexico as ugly losing streak continues

An Eighty fifth-minute Kiana Palacios sunk Nigeria’s Tremendous Falcons to a 1-0 defeat to hosts Mexico of their opening match of the Ladies’s Revelation Cup contained in the León Stadium on Wednesday night time.

The Falcons weren’t tremendous on the night time as they proceed their seek for a primary win since beating Cameroon within the quarterfinals of the Africa Ladies Cup of Nations in Morocco final 12 months.

The way it occurred

First half

Nigeria began the sport brightly, however each groups may have opened the scoring throughout the opening 5 minutes.

Nevertheless, stand-in captain Rasheedat Ajibade made an early clearance to disclaim the hosts whereas Toni Payne threatened on the opposite finish of the pitch.

???How we’ll line up towards Mexico ?? tonight

?: https://t.co/4nfjaMUSkE

We’re prepared! ??#SoarSuperFalcons| #RevelationsCup| #MEXNGA| #TeamNigeria| #FIFAWWCPrep pic.twitter.com/79lLUUuDdb

— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) February 15, 2023

Moments later, striker Ifeoma Onumonu had a free kick in a harmful space, inflicting chaos, however nobody was available to use the end.

The Mexicans grew into the encounter, and they need to have damaged the impasse simply previous the half-hour mark, however Lizabeth Ovalle missed a sitter to avoid wasting the Falcons’ blushes.

Coach Ralph Waldrum was pressured into making a change moments earlier than halftime as Glory Ogbonna got here on to exchange Rofiat Imuran, who was stretched out resulting from damage.

And shortly after approaching, the brand new entrant grew to become the primary participant to be booked for a poor problem on the sting of the field.

Deep into stoppage time, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie got here to the crew’s rescue, making a nice cease from Anika Rodriguez’s effort from distance to maintain the scoreline goalless.

Second half

On the break, Nigeria made a double substitution, Ordega Francesca and Chinwendu Ihezuo made method for Uchenna Kanu and Jennifer Echegili.

Nonetheless, Mexico continued to look extra harmful in assault, however the Tremendous Falcons weren’t with no struggle.

Ajibade didn’t make her effort rely after Nigeria gained a free-kick in a promising space.

Mexico almost made the Atletico Madrid star pay for her profligacy, however Lizabeth Ovalle missed one other superb probability at hand El Tri the benefit.

One other damage scare for the Tremendous Falcons surfaced within the seventieth minute as Christy Ucheibe wanted remedy after happening beneath a troublesome problem.

The Benfica midfielder couldn’t shake off the knock and needed to depart the pitch, with Halimatu Ayinde taking her place.

And within the Eighty fifth minute, Mexico had their breakthrough as Kiana Palacios headed in a cross to beat Chiamaka Nnadozie and prolong Nigeria’s shedding streak to 6 matches.

What subsequent?

The Tremendous Falcons will play their second match of the four-nation invitational event towards Costa Rica on Tuesday, February 21.

The Costa Ricans pressured Colombia to a 1-1 draw within the different match performed on Wednesday.