Tanaka brace hands Nadeshiko easy win over Falcons in Kobe

Two second half goals from Mina Tanaka condemned the Super Falcons to a 2-0 defeat to Nadeshiko of Japan on Thursday.

The outcome of the international friendly is not surprising considering the team had to scrambled to get 19 players for this game.

Less than 48 hours into the game only 8 players were in camp and actually trained.

Few hours into the match, only 15 players were in camp and participated in the second training.

Thirteen of the players were outfield and two were goalkeepers before the arrival of four others.

In the first, Chiamaka Nnadozie was the reason Nigeria didn’t conceded a goal as it ended goalless.

She mad three top class saves including a 1v1 that should have been a good goal.

Injury to Ucheibe Christy late in the first half really left the midfield opened.

Waldrum who started with a midfield trio of Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe and Ngozi Okobi – replaced injured Ucheibe with Vivien Ikechukwu.

The front three was, Uchenna Kanu, Ifeoma Onumonu and Rasheedat Ajibade.

Ajibade was withdrawn from the flanks to play in the midfield with Ikechukwu replacing her on the right wing.

Waldrum also pulled out Okobi for Efih, both Substitutions didn’t impact on the game as the team became worse after.

Mina Tanaka scored the first goal in the 64 minutes from a freekick. It was a training ground routine goal.

Tanaka ran into a chipped ball before firing past Nnadozie in goal.

Few minutes, she completed her brace from the spot kick.

The defeat condemned Falcons to their 5th defeat in last five games.

Japan now also have a 3-1 head-to-head succes over Nigeria in four meetings.