Ageva brings delight

Sports

NICOLLETTE Ageva gave Papua New Guinea a moment to cheer about last night as the hosts bowed of the women’s Under-20 soccer World Cup after their third consecutive loss in their group.
They were beaten 1-7 by North Korea at the National Football Stadium.
Ageva became the first and only PNG goalscorer when she levelled the tally 1-1 in the 16th minute to the delight of the home fans.
They were beaten 9-0 by Brazil and 6-0 by Sweden earlier.
North Korea and Brazil qualified from group A for the quarterfinals and in group B Japan and Spain made it through to the playoffs.
Groups C and D will be decided this evening but the US looks strong enough to make it through in group C with a win and a draw and the fight now seems on between New Zealand and France for the other place.
Germany seem to have made it through in pool D with two wins and the battle is between South Korea and Mexico for the other place.
Both teams have scored one win each.
Mexico take on fellow Latin Americans Venezuela, who are out of contention having not won a game at the tournament so far.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino is scheduled to arrive in the country on Dec 2 to watch the final.
Additionally, Fifa executive committee member Sonia Bien-Aiem, who is in the country, believes the cup will help lift profile of the women’s game in the country.
Group B’s hard-luck story, Nigeria, beat Spain yesterday 2-1 but missed out on goal average.
The sight of Nigerian captain Chinendu Ihezuo in tears after her team’s excellent win at the PNG Football Stadium showed the bitter-sweet emotions on show at this cup.
For Japan, their 5-0 win over Canada in the early fixture at the NFS earned them passage into the quarters from group B. Canada, who were winless but valiant in every performance.