Dike scores early again as Nigeria romps

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Aug 20, 2014

[UNDER-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP] Oklahoma Courtney Dike, who set an Under-20 Women's World Cup record for the fastest goal, scoring 18 seconds into Nigeria's match against South Korea, needed barely more than a minute to put the Super Falconets ahead en route to a 6-2 win over North Korea in Wednesday's semifinals in Moncton.

Asisat Oshoala scored four goals to lead Nigeria into the final against Germany, a 2-1 winner over France despite being outshot, 22-5. The winner came on a late goal by another U.S, collegian, UCF's Lena Petterman.

Oshoala, who set up Dike, a rising sophomore at Oklahoma State, for the opening goal, now leads the tournament with seven goals. She scored the second fastest goal in the history of the tournament, after 32 seconds, in Nigeria's 4-1 win over New Zealand in the quarterfinals.

"I had said to my girls before the tournament," said Nigeria coach Peter Dedevbo, "that the World Cup really started at the quarter-finals. Since then, my team improved. If you want to accomplish great things, it is important to have intelligence in your team and a player who can make the difference like Asisat did today.

Uchechi Sunday also scored for Nigeria in what was the highest-scoring semifinal ever seen at the U-20 Women's World Cup.  Ri Un Sim and Jon So Yon scored for North Korea, which was seeking its third berth in the final.

Petterman broke a 1-1 in the 81st minute to give Germany the win over European champion France and set up a rematch of the 2010 Women's World Cup final it won.

France had dominated the game for long stretches and got an equalizer from captain Griedge Mbock Bathy just before halftime. Pauline Bremer had put Germany ahead in the 12th minute with her fifth goal of the tournament.