FRIENDLY: CANADA VS NIGERIA

A late equalizer from Canada denied Super Falcons a famous win, as both teams settled for a 2-2 draw, in the second of their two legged friendly in Victoria on Tuesday morning.

The first meeting between both teams on Saturday in Vancouver ended 2-0 in favour of the Olympic champions Canada.

But this time the Falcons put up a more spirited display and were close to grabbing the win before surrendering their lead for the second time in the encounter.

The Falcons got off to a very good start as they took the lead in the fifth minute through Ifeoma Onumonu whose brilliant back heeled effort from a setpiece ended in the back of the net.

In the 18th minute Chiamaka Nnadozie was called to action as she produced a brilliant save to keep the score at 1-0.

The Canadians kept pouring forward and were almost rewarded on 28 minutes but Ashleigh Plumptre made a goal-line clearance before Ajibade completed the clearance.

In the 32nd minute Nnadozie produced a superb save to deny Janine Beckie.

Just three minutes later Nnadozie was called to action again this time stopping Desiree Scott from grabbing an equalizer.

Despite efforts by the Canadians to draw level, the Falcons held on to go into the break 1-0 ahead.

Uchenna Kanu almost doubled the Falcons lead early in the second half but saw her effort well saved by the Canadian keeper.

The hosts eventually found the equalizer on 49 minutes through Christine Sinclair, who lobbed the ball over Nnadozie after Onome Ebi was robbed of the ball off a pass from the Falcons keeper.

But in the 53rd minute the Falcons were back in front thanks to Ajibade after her intended cross ended inside the net.

Canada were close to grabbing an equalizer but Sinclair saw her strike come off the cross bar.

And on 88 minutes Canada’s persistence eventually paid off as Shelina Zadorsky’s header from a cross beat the brilliant Nnadozie to bring score to 2-2.