Nigeria come from behind to stun Australia at FIFA Girls’s World Cup

Nigeria’s Ifeoma Onumonu, proper, celebrates after teammate Uchenna Kanu, background, scored their facet’s first aim through the Girls’s World Cup Group B soccer match between Australia and Nigeria In Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, July 27, 2023. Nigeria received 3-2. (AP Picture/Tertius Pickard)

Second-half objectives from Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala gave Nigeria a shocking 3-2 win over Australia on the Girls’s World Cup on Thursday to depart the co-hosts in peril of an early exit.

In entrance of 49,156 followers in Brisbane, the Matildas missed a golden likelihood to achieve the final 16 and as a substitute now face a must-win closing group sport towards Olympic champions Canada.

In distinction, Nigeria prime Group B and play Eire— who’re already out of competition— with the knockout rounds in sight.

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“We’ve talked about believing in one another and that the success goes to be within the unity of the workforce,” stated Nigeria’s coach Randy Waldrum, whose workforce held Canada 0-0 of their first sport.

“To assume we acquired two outcomes towards two prime groups says so much about our coronary heart and the aggressive want that the workforce has.

“It’s not all the time the most effective expertise that wins, it’s the workforce that works finest collectively.”

Australia captain Steph Catley felt that her facet — who really took the lead and dominated within the first half — had sufficient possibilities to win the sport.

However she conceded: “They had been nice on the counter and so they completed their possibilities.

“Loads of issues (went improper). We weren’t affected person sufficient at occasions and we weren’t scientific sufficient,” she instructed Optus Sport.

“We had a number of set-pieces tonight that normally possibly one or two go in.

“We’ve simply acquired to maneuver on as fast as attainable as a result of that is what World Cups are about.

“Our backs are up towards the wall now, and it’s not how we might have preferred it, however nothing good comes straightforward.”

Defensive mix-up

A Nigeria win appeared unbelievable after a primary interval which Australia dominated, though they struggled to interrupt down the Tremendous Falcons’ defence.

Nigeria pissed off Canada of their stalemate and did the identical to the Matildas, who lacked the penetration that the injured duo of Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler would have given them.

Australia lastly acquired reward within the first minute of stoppage time when a poor aim kick from Nigerian keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was picked off and Caitlin Foord’s low cross was met by Emily van Egmond, who calmly slotted the ball into the web.

However any hopes of taking a 1-0 lead into the break had been dashed within the final play of the half.

Rasheedat Ajibade reduce inside and her shot deflected into the trail of Uchenna Kanu, who beat Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold with a prodded end on the again put up.

Defender Ohale popped as much as put Nigeria in entrance within the sixty fifth minute when she headed dwelling after Arnold may solely parry a shot into her path.

Barcelona’s Oshoala, who got here on within the second half, then took benefit of a mix-up between Arnold and defender Alanna Kennedy to get between them and hearth dwelling from an acute angle.

Australia acquired one again by Kennedy within the tenth minute of stoppage time however the Nigerians held on for a well-known victory.

The 66-year-old American Waldrum afterwards stated groups like his wanted extra funding if they’re to proceed to compete on the prime stage.

“Not all of the groups have collective bargaining like they do right here in Australia,” he stated.

“The sky’s the restrict if there’s funding, and never simply in Nigeria.

“There’s a number of nations, not simply in Africa, that want extra funding.”