Germany down Nigeria The Falconets lost 5-4 on penalties after the two sides were locked at 1-1 after extra time in 700th Anniversary Stadium. Playing in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Nigeria took a 1-0 lead ten minutes before half time with a goal by Nkese Udoh. Anja Mittag found the net in the 86th minute to force extra time. In the penalty shoot out Germany converted all five of their penalties while Nigeria's third from Akudo Iwuagwu was saved. "We expected a very hard match and it was," said German coach Silvia Neid after the dust had settled. "We did not work together as a team in the first half, and in the second we did better and deserved our goal … In the penalty kicks, I just told the players to pick a corner and concentrate on that." Her counterpart, Nigerian boss Felix Ibe Ukwu, was resigned to the defeat.
"I told our girls after the late equaliser that we would have to fight like wounded lambs," said the clearly proud coach. "I had to make three substitutions to key players all from injury during the match, and two of them were penalty kick takers for us … Luck was not on our side. God knows best why this happened."
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