NigeriaVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2023 | 8:30 am | Women's World Cup | 2022/23 |
Match Report
England shootout brave Nigerians at Womens World Cup
Chloe Kelly came to England’s rescue once more as the Lionesses sneaked into the quarter-finals despite Lauren James’ second half red card.
Kelly, who scored the winning goal in the 2022 Euros final at Wembley, stepped up and cooly dispatched the winning penalty as England were victorious 4-2 on penalties.
England dominated the early stages as Alex Greenwood and Alessia Russo were lively.
The Lionesses were trying to get their player of the tournament so far, Lauren James involved as much as possible but the Chelsea midfielder was man marked throughout.
Nigeria grew into the first half and Michelle Alozie’s header caused pinball in the England box before the ball was cleared.
The African side’s purple patch continued and England’s worries increased as former England youth player Ashleigh Plumptre hit a thunderous strike that cannoned off the bar and her follow up shot was well saved by Mary Earps.
Alessia Russo had a shot in reply after a mistake by Nigeria at the back but her effort was well saved.
England appeared to have won themselves a penalty on the half hour mark for a shove in the back by Rasheedat Ajibade but VAR intervened and ruled out the spot kick for not enough contact.
Nigeria then created two good opportunities from close range.
The first from Uchenna Kanu was blocked by Millie Bright and the second from Christy Ucheibe is also prevented from the reaching Earps.
Nigeria kept up the pressure in the second half as Kanu hit the bar with a header from Ajibade's cross.
Kanu again went close from a corner before Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie denied Rachel Daly’s on rushing free header from a corner with an excellent stop.
England star James endured a moment of madness and was initially shown a yellow card for a bad, mistimed foul on Michelle Alozie.
However, VAR intervened and rightly upgraded it to a red.
Extra time ensued and the first period was a cagey affair with neither side having clear cut chances but Nigeria did dominate possession.
Penalties were next.
Georgia Stanway and Desire Oparanozie both sent their opening penalties wide.
Bethany England stepped up and put the Lionesses ahead before Michelle Alozie skied her attempt over the bar.
Rachel Daly rifled her effort in the right corner to put England further ahead, while Ajibade got Nigeria on the scoresheet.
Alex Greenwood sent the keeper the wrong way and Christy Ucheibe cooly slotted.
Kelly smashed her effort into the right corner and England reached the final eight by the barest of margins.
Ground
| Suncorp Stadium |
|---|
| Suncorp Stadium, 40, Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane City, Queensland, 4064, Australia |
Ben Jaycock
I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.
Chloe Kelly scores and England are through. 4-2 England
Christy Ucheibe cooly slots. 3-2 England
Alex Greenwood sends the keeper the wrong way. 3-1 England
Rasheedat Ajibade scores down the middle. 2-1 England
Rachel Daly rifles her effort in the right corner to put England further ahead. 2-0 England
Michelle Alozie skies her penalty over the bar. 1-0 England
Bethany England puts England ahead. 1-0
Desire Oparanozie puts her effort wide. 0-0
Georgia Stanway takes the first penalty and sends it well wide of the goal. 0-0
Penalties to come!
Full time: England 0-0 Nigeria
The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of three additional minutes.
England sub: Katie Zelem replaces Keira Walsh because of an injury.
Bright goes close at the far post as Beth England's flick on just evaded her grasp.
Substitute Oshoala has some room in the box and takes a shot that is straight at Earps.
A clash of heads occurs. Rachel Daly and Rasheedat Ajibade are down injured.
Nigeria sub: Désiré Oparanozie replaces Toni Payne.
It remains a cagey affair with little goalmouth action.
Back underway in the second period of extra time.
England sub: Bethany England replaces Lauren Hemp.
Extra time half time: England 0-0 Nigeria
Michelle Alozie has a left shooted shot that misses wide.
Play is underway in extra time.
Nigeria sub: Onyi Echegini replaces Halimatu Ayinde.
Extra time to come.
End of 90 minutes: England 0-0 Nigeria
England sub: Chloe Kelly replaces Alessia Russo.
The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of six additional minutes.
England in a deep hole they need to dig themselves out of.
VAR check ensues and James' yellow is upgraded to a red.
Lauren James is shown a yellow card for a bad foul.
Nigeria subs: Francisca Ordega replaces Uchenna Kanu
What a save by Nigeria goalkeeper Nnadozie to deny Daly from a free onrushing header.
England win a corner.
Play is back underway.
There's a delay in the match because of an injury to England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
The corner picks out Kanu but the header is just wide.
Nigeria corner.
The corner amounts to nothing and Nigeria clear their lines.
Corner to England.
Rachel Daly has a shot that sails wide.
Nigeria sub: Asisat Oshoala replaces Ifeoma Onumonu.
Alex Greenwood whips in a ball that is headed just wide by Alessia Russo.
Toni Payne's corner is whipped in and Plumptre header misses to the right.
Millie Bright puts the ball out of play for a Nigeria corner.
Nigeria continue to pile the pressure on in the second half as Uchenna Kanu hits the bar with a header from Rasheedat Ajibade's cross.
Half time: England 0-0 Nigeria
The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of four additional minutes.
Lauren James has a right footed shot from outside the box that is just a bit too high following a corner.
England respond, winning a corner that is punched away by Chiamaka Nnadozie and then volleyed over by Lauren James from outside the box.
Nigeria are down the right end as far as they are concerned, creating two good opportunities from close range. The first from Uchenna Kanu is blocked by Millie Bright, the second from Christy Ucheibe is also prevented from reaching Mary Earps.
The decision is no penalty as VAR has deemed it to be contact rather than a push.
A VAR check has ensued to see if the foul was outside the area or if there was enough contact.
A shove in the back by Rasheedat Ajibade leads to a spot kick that Georgia Stanway will take.
Penalty to England.
The ball is fired to the near post from the corner and then drops to Rachel Daly for a flashing effort that the keeper is well-placed to parry.
Lauren James is capable of the spectacular. She goes for a very ambitious volley in the box from a cross from deep on the right. She connects well and the ball takes a nick off a defender before hurtling over. Corner.
Finally, England get to test the Nigeria goal after a mistake at the back. Alessia Russo fires an effort first time from range, but the Super Falcon's keeper is equal to it with a diving save and gather.
Nigeria's purple patch and England's worries continues as Ashleigh Plumptre hits a thunderous strike that cannons off the bar and Plumptre has a follow up shot from range that is well saved by Mary Earps.
This time, the delivery is met by Michelle Alozie with a booming header, but her effort strikes the mass of bodies ahead of her before the ball is cleared.
Nigeria win another corner after a fast break frees Uchenna Kanu before she is tackled.
A player in green gets her head to the ball first but it lacks power and England are able to scramble clear.
Better from Nigeria as Rasheedat Ajibade floats over a cross and forces Mary Earps to punch the ball behind for a corner.
It's all England in these opening stages as Lauren Hemp is found on the left but she is well marshalled by her marker and fails to keep the ball in.
England win a corner and Alex Greenwood delivers but the Nigeria keeper and captain, Chiamaka Nnadozie gets a glove to it to push it away.
Alessia Russo gets a low ball in from the right but again a Nigerian defender is in the right place to clear.
Lauren James gets her first touch over on the left but she's immediately closed down and tackled by Halimatu Ayinde.
Millie Bright is the target in the box but the Nigeria defence does its job. Ball cleared down field.
England pump a long ball forward and Georgia Stanway is clattered. It's a clear free-kick and one the Lionesses can use to test Nigeria's defence.
Good morning and welcome to live coverage of England versus Nigeria.