Three-time champion Nigeria booked their place in the semifinals of the Fifa U-17 World Cup in UAE with a 2-0 win over Uruguay in Sharjah.
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Taiwo Awoniyi – deputising for the injured Success Isaac – scored both goals in a game that was a true test of the Golden Eaglets' title aspirations. The African favourites will now meet Sweden in the semifinal round, in a replay of their 3-3 Group F draw.
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Uruguay had the first chance of note after only six minutes when Enrique Etcheverry crossed low through the penalty area. The impressive Leandro Otormin got a boot to the ball, but could only direct his effort wide of goal. It was a false dawn for the 2011 runners-up, however, as the Golden Eaglets took the game by the scruff of the neck after 18 minutes.
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The Nigerians, who scored 18 goals in their four games heading into the quarterfinal round, opened the scoring from a fabulous piece of creative interplay. Kelechi Iheanacho, scorer of five goals at these finals, laid a wonderful through ball, perfectly weighted, from deep in midfield that was latched onto by Taiwo Awoniyi. The striker made no mistake, hitting home to the back post for his second goal of the tournament.