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England 0-0 Nigeria (4-2 on pens): Gallant Super Falcons bow out to 10-woman Lionesses
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team crashed out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 4-2 loss on penalties to European champions, England in Brisbane on Monday.
England coach, Sarina Wiegman received a huge injury boost as key player Keira Walsh, who was stretchered off against Denmark, was fit enough to start in midfield as Katie Zelem dropped to the bench in the only change. Lauren James retained her place having impressed with six goal involvements in her last two starts.
For Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, he made just one alteration from the goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland as Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala, still making a return from injury, was left on the bench with Ifeoma Onumonu starting in her place, while Uchenna Kanu leads the line for the nine-time African champions.
Nigeria went close to taking the lead with a wonder strike in the 16th minute. A cross from the right was headed away but only to Ashleigh Plumptre outside the box. She hits it the first time and very sweetly, but though it beats Mary Earps, it does not beat the woodwork and it comes crashing off the frame of the goal and away from danger.
Having just smashed off the crossbar, Plumptre forced a decent save out of Earps after rifling another powerful effort towards the England goal.
In the 23rd minute, there was a big let-off for Nigeria as Tosin Dimehin’s miskick allowed Alessia Russo to nip in. She opted to shoot the first time, but Chiamaka Nnadozie did well to get down to her left and beat the England forward’s strike away, much to Dimehin’s relief.
A threatening Alex Greenwood corner was swung in from the right and not dealt with by the Nigeria defence in the 28th minute. It came out to Rachel Daly, who showed superb technique to hit it on the volley, but it was straight at Nnadozie and the goalkeeper was able to punch away.
Three minutes later, Greenwood fired a diagonal delivery in from a free-kick, and Daly hit the turf under a challenge from Rasheedat Ajibade. The referee showed little hesitation to point to the spot with Nigeria’s players left incensed.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review ruled that Ajibade’s challenge on Daly was legal, and England’s chance to take the lead from the spot was taken away from them.
Two minutes into the second half, Ajibade floated a teasing cross to the back post, and Uchenna Kanu leaped above Daly to beat her to the ball. She nodded at the goal, but it came off the top of the woodwork and over for a goal-kick.
For all of Nigeria’s impressive play, it looked for all the world as if they were going to fall behind in the 76th minute as an unmarked Daly powered a header at goal from Greenwood’s corner. However, Nnadozie somehow got down to her right to paw away and keep her side level.
The Lionesses were reduced to ten players in the late embers of the game. James initially received the first booking of the contest for a petulant stamp on Michelle Alozie. After VAR review, she was sent off after an act of frustration and left her team really up against it in a game in which they were already struggling. For all of her impressive work at this tournament, it will likely be remembered now for that ill-tempered stamp.
James is only the second England player to be sent off at the Women’s World Cup, along with Millie Bright in 2019 against the United States of America (USA).
During extra time, Nigeria had a chance of taking the lead in the 98th minute. A long diagonal ball was not dealt with by Bright, and Onyi Echegini laid the ball to her left for Alozie to let fly from a tight angle. She sliced across her effort, though, and the ball smashed into the side netting.
With both sides unseparated after 120 minutes, the game went into penalties.
Both sides missed their first penalties from Georgia Stanway and Desire Oparanozie while Alozie also missed Super Falcons’ second spot kick giving Wiegman’s side the advantage to seal a 4-2 win.
England will next face the winner of the Round of 16 game between Colombia and Jamaica in the quarter-final.
