By 

Eniola Olatunji 

Hosts Dominican Republic sank lower in her aspiration to reach the knockout stages when she held New Zealand to 1-1 draw in group A early Sunday morning.

Before a crowd of 3,258, Ref Asaka Koizumi of Japan ensured standard as Defender Renata Mercedes Puello of Dominican Republic gave New Zealand an own goal before they struggled to get an equalizer through Yulemis Pinales in the 68th minute. 

Dominicans struggled desperately to win the match committing 16-10 fouls with one yellow card a piece. The hosts had 17-22 shots at goal with 5-5 shorts on target; had 42-58 ball possession meaning New Zealand had better control of the game stringing 246-325 passes after the New Zealanders but did not take advantage of the 6-3 corner kicks.

Nigeria had in the first match drubbed New Zealand 4-1 and mauled Ecuador 4-0 while Ecuador had beaten Dominic Republic 2-0.

So Nigeria marches majestically into the quarterfinals with 8 points as group leaders; Ecuador stands bye to move into the quarters too presently with 3 points; Dominican Republic has 1 point scoring 1 goal and conceding 3 while New Zealand has 1 point a scoring 2 goals but conceding 5 goals.

The group decider will be the Ecuador versus New Zealand match which Ecuador must win but to think Dominic Republic can defeat the goal crazy Flamingos of Nigeria that has scored 8 goals, 4 in each match will be a day dream.

In a group B match also played early on Sunday at Santiago Domino with 6,334 crowd in attendance under Ref Alina Pesu of Romania the Yankee Babes of USA smashed Columbia 2-0.Micayla Johnson scored from a Main Striker, Mary Long assist in the 43rd minute.

Defender Oritz Chicue of Columbia had committed a foul in the box getting a yellow card in the 54th minute and Kennedy Fuller scored the resultant VAR approved penalty in the 58th minute to record 2nd goal for USA. VAR rejected a penalty call for Columbia in the 80th minute.

Spain tops group B with 6 points USA is 2nd with 3 points; Columbia has 1 point scoring a goal and conceding 3 while South Korea has 1 point also scoring a goal but conceding 6 goals. Spain had beaten USA 3-1 in first match and walloped South Korea 5-0 while South Korea and Columbia had drawn 1-1. Nigeria may meet the runners up in this group if she maintains her lead in Group A.

The group B matches will come to an end with USA facing South Korea and Columbia squaring up against Spain on Tuesday at 2100 hours. At midnight of Tuesday Nigeria will play hosts Dominic Republic while Ecuador and New Zealand have supremacy scores to settle.

On Wednesday at 2100 hours Japan will meet Brazil while North Korea will face Kenya. T midnight of Wednesday, all the group matches will end with Zambia trying to regain freedom from Poland and England proving superiority over Mexico.