By VICTOR OKOYE

Colombia on Saturday booked a semi-finals place against Nigeria’s Flamingos at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Colombia breezed past Tanzania 3-0 in the quarter-finals at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margoa.

The result means the South Americans will now face the Flamingos in the first semi-final fixture at the same stadium on Wednesday.

Nigeria reached the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time on Friday when the Flamingos beat the U.S. in the quarter-finals.

The Flamingos kept their nerves to defeat the U.S. 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in a pulsating quarter-final match in Navi Mumbai.

Colombia on their part, have already had their best run in the tournament, making it past the group stage.

With the win against Tanzania, their dream redemption in the tournament – following four successive group stage exits, including that of 2018 – continues.

They started their quarter-finals match pressing very high and got the breakthrough within the first three minutes.

Colombia’s counter-attack was finished with a goal by captain Linda Caicedo, who beat Zulfa Makau with ease.

In spite of Tanzania playing a 4-1-4-1 shape, it could not stop the opposition from inflicting further blows when the second goal came 13 minutes later.

Cristina Motta’s cross from the left was headed into the goal by Yesica Munoz.

The match got bad to worse for the Serengeti girls when Zainabu Ally’s foul on Juana Ortegon saw her being sent off, following a VAR check by referee Ivana Martincic.

Colombia piled on misery on Tanzania with a penalty kick in the 32nd minute.

Though Bakari Shime (Tanzania’s head coach) changed the goalkeeper – bringing on Husna Mtunda for Makau – Gabriela Rodriguez scored with ease to continue building on the lead.

In the second half, Tanzania looked defensively stronger in spite of having a player less.

In the 80th minute, Colombia came close to scoring their fourth when Orianna Quintero beat Mtunda, but Tanzania’s captain Noela Luhala made a key clearance in the final moment.

Luhala saw her relief turning into agony minutes later, when her foul on Ana Guzman was penalised with the second red card of the match.

The incident reduced a hapless Tanzania to just nine players. (NAN)

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