Match 9

Nicaragua 3 South Africa 0

We’ve not even kicked off yet and already the horns and drums are deafening from the huge African support.

Neither team seems able to break the other down in the first period of the match. The ball is spending much of its time in air but with plenty of deft chest control and headers it’s quite an impressive spectacle.

The first goal comes from the Central Americans. A crisp ball put in from the right wing is too much to deal with for the SA keeper who fumbles it into the path of the fortuitous Nicaraguan striker.

Clearly the team is more important than the individual as one of the South African girls squanders a chance in front of goal to an uproar from the crowd as they unanimously display gestures for her to be substituted. All in good fun, of course.

Nicaragua go down to six players after a reckless challenge from the sturdy midfielder. Unfazed they press on and grab anther two brilliant goals. One lifted delicately over the advancing keeper and another great strike comes off the underside of the bar and rebounds in off the goalie.

Three games played for Nicaragua and three games won – they’re through to Saturday’s semifinal!