In a nail-biting match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, England managed to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup after defeating Nigeria 4-2 on penalties in Brisbane.
Despite Nigeria having better chances throughout the game, the European Champions reduced to 10 players after 87 minutes, managed to sneak home in front of a 50,000-strong crowd after the match ended 0-0 at the end of extra time.
England held on with resilience after playmaker Lauren James received a red card for a needless stamp, and they now realize the need for improvement if they wish to add the World Cup to their European crown. Their upcoming match on Saturday against Colombia or Jamaica will determine if they progress to the semi-finals.
The penalty shootout saw England off to a shaky start as Georgia Stanway fired wide, but Nigeria’s Desire Oparanozie failed to capitalize and missed with a nearly identical attempt.
Beth England capitalized on her chance, but Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie shot way over the top, giving England an advantage they never relinquished. The victory was sealed when Chloe Kelly calmly converted her penalty.
England coach Sarina Wiegman praised her team’s unity, stating, “The first thing is we really stuck together as a team. It was a very, very hard game, then we had a red card but we made it through extra time and then won on penalties. How we did that, and how the team just kept going, I’m so proud of them.”
The Lionesses, who claimed victory at the European Championship last year at Wembley Stadium in London, were expected to comfortably win against the 40th-ranked Nigerian team.
However, Nigeria proved their mettle by stunning hosts Australia in the group stage and continued their impressive performance against England, frequently exposing their back three in defence.
Both teams had their fair share of opportunities, and Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum was proud of his side’s display. “To come in here and play the way they did tonight, I thought we were every bit as good (as England),” he remarked. “We had every opportunity to get the result, and unfortunately, we didn’t get it done. Obviously, we didn’t execute on our penalties, and when it gets to that point, it’s anyone’s game. We had the best chances, hitting the crossbar twice in regulation play. We were a bit unlucky not to get something out of it. But credit to England, they are a great side.”
England started the match strongly, dominating possession and rattling Nigeria in the opening moments. However, Nigeria showed their threat, with Ashleigh Plumptre having two golden chances to score.
Regardless of England’s efforts, they were unable to break the deadlock during regular time and extra time, setting the stage for the tense and dramatic penalty shootout.
With their quarter-final spot secured, England now faces a challenging road ahead as they strive for the ultimate prize in women’s football.
