In a tense and hard-fought Women’s World Cup encounter, England faced a resilient Nigeria side that had gone unbeaten in the group stages for the first time in their history.
Despite England dominating possession from the outset, Nigeria displayed their attacking threat early on, with Michelle Alozie’s header miraculously cleared off the line by Alessia Russo.
The Super Falcons continued to challenge England, and their hopes of ending a four-match goalless run against European opponents were nearly realized when Ashleigh Plumptre’s ferocious strike rattled the crossbar.
England, a team that had scored in 16 consecutive WWC matches, gradually found their rhythm and started posing a threat to the Nigerian defense. Russo and Rachel Daly forced Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into action, but the Lionesses were denied a penalty just before halftime. Rasheedat Ajibade’s challenge on Daly was initially deemed a penalty, but a VAR consultation led to the decision being overturned, much to England’s frustration.
The second half saw Nigeria maintaining their attacking prowess, with Uchenna Kanu’s looping header almost beating England’s Mary Earps but instead clipping the crossbar. Both teams battled hard in an attritional period, but Daly and Russo’s close-range headers were well saved by Nnadozie, leaving England still searching for the breakthrough.
As the game reached its closing stages, England’s hopes took a major blow when their top scorer, Lauren James, was shown a red card for an off-the-ball stamp on Michelle Alozie, leaving the Lionesses down to ten players as extra time loomed.
In extra time, Nigeria took control and pressed for a late winner, but Alozie squandered a golden opportunity from six yards, scuffing her shot wide. Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, seemingly preparing for a penalty shootout to determine the victor.
The shootout was filled with tension, with Georgia Stanway and Desire Oparanozie missing their opening strikes for their respective teams. England gained a lifeline when Alozie missed her penalty, giving them the chance to take the lead. Chloe Kelly held her nerve and struck the decisive penalty, propelling England into the quarter-finals.
It was a gripping and dramatic encounter, with both teams showing determination and skill throughout the match. Despite England’s early struggles to find a way through Nigeria’s resolute defense, they showed resilience and managed to capitalize on their opportunities in the penalty shootout. The Lionesses will now face the next challenge in the World Cup quarter-finals, hoping to continue their impressive run in the tournament.
