The Super Falcons of Nigeria is looking at booking a place in the round of 16 in the ongoing Female FIFA World Cup. They beat Australia 3-2 in their second game in the tournament. Australia scored first when Emily van Egmond converted Caitlin Foord’s pass. But the Super Falcons of Nigeria equalised soon afterwards with Uchenna Kanu’s calm finish before they went for the halftime break.
At the resumption of the break Nigerian left back Osinachi Ohale’s header gave them the lead before Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala scored after a mix-up between Australia’s Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold to make the scores 3-1. Australia later got a goal to make the scores 3-2 but Nigeria held on till the end of the game.
Nigeria move top of Group B, level with Canada on four points, while Australia are a point behind both before the last matches in the section on Monday. Australia will face Olympic champions Canada in Melbourne and may need a victory to guarantee a place in the knockout stages, while Nigeria will play already-eliminated Republic of Ireland at the same time in Brisbane.
Australia, ranked 10th in the world, would be very shocked to have lost the game after they created 28 chances in all, compared to only 11 from Nigeria, and had 15 corners with only two from their opponents the Super Falcons of Nigeria. They played without their star Chelsea player Sam Kerr due to injury.
They piled on pressure on the Nigerians but they were able to hold them down till the end of the game.