Canada downs Nigeria 4-1 in FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup opener

Melisa Kekic scored the winner in the 73rd minute and fellow substitute Julia Amireh added two insurance goals as Canada defeated Nigeria 4-1 Sunday in its opening game at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Sale, Morocco.

After Kekic gave Canada a 2-1 lead, Amireh scored in the 80th and 86th minute.

Gabriela Istocki put Canada ahead in the second minute. Queen Joseph replied for Nigeria in the 30th minute.

The Canadians regained the lead after Chloe Taylor split the Nigerian defence with a long pass and Kekic, who entered the game 12 minutes earlier, beat Nigerian goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface from the edge of the penalty box with a low shot to the corner.

Amireh's first goal was more of the same. But this time Boniface could not hang onto a long Canadian ball in the Nigerian penalty box and Amireh, who plays for the North Carolina Courage academy, was there to knock it into the unprotected goal.

Amireh, who came on in the 72nd minute, scored her second by beating a defender to a ball sent in by captain Olivia Chisholm.

Nigeria outshot Canada 17-10 (8-5 in shots on target) and had four corners to Canada's one.

Canada, coached by Jen Herst, continues Group D play Wednesday against tournament newcomer Samoa before facing France on Oct. 25. France downed Samoa 4-2 earlier Sunday.

The top two teams in each of the six groups, along with the four best third-place finishers, advance to the Round of 16.

Canada went ahead early on a humid evening at the Football Academy Mohammed VI when Molly Hale, after a surging run into the Nigerian penalty box, found Istocki in front of goal for a tap-in.

But Canadian Khadijah Cisse was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening 45 minutes as Nigeria spent much of the time in