In the round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the Lionesses of England defeated the Super Falcons of Nigeria on penalties and advanced to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Both teams demonstrated that they were in for a long ride and prepared to win from the beginning of the hotly contested match until the finish. But one team must triumph, and the other must lose.
Most football fans had expected the tightly contested game to end in a scoreless draw after the first half. However, the spot-kick opportunity that the Lionesses had in the 31st minute to take the lead was just wonderful.
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Prior to the allotted minute, Rasheedat Ajibade challenged Rachel Daly as she fell to the ground after Alex Greenwood’s free-kick diagonal delivery. Before indicating the spot for the penalty, the referee exhibited some hesitancy.
As the VAR intervened and reversed the decision in favour of the Super Falcons, the Nigerian players disputed the call.
The first half finished without either team scoring due to the VAR review finding that Ajibade’s challenge on Daly was legal.
As both teams pressed for the victory while still being careful moving forward in the second half, the already violent conflict grew much fiercer.
Coach Randy Waldrum made the decision to insert her into today’s game in the second half (58th minute), just like she did in the group stage match between the tournament’s co-hosts, where Asisat Oshoala of the Super Falcons entered the game in the second half and scored in Nigeria’s 3-2 victory. Her introduction didn’t significantly alter anything, though, since the Lionesses’ attacks continued to appear more promising.
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When Daly, who was unmarked, headed Greenwood’s corner goalward in the 76th minute, England had one of the finest opportunities of the game. The Super Falcons were able to stay in the game because to custodian Chiamaka Nnadozie, who miraculously managed to dive to her right and block.
Lauren James of England was dismissed in the 86th minute following a VAR intervention. She received the game’s first booking for stamping on Michelle Alozie after referee Melissa Borjas first issued her a yellow card.
After 90 minutes of goalless football, her withdrawal from the game left an already struggling England with 10 women for the game, which went into overtime.
Alozie had a great opportunity to give the Super Falcons the lead in the first half of extra time, but she misdirected a long diagonal ball from Jennifer Echegini in the 98th minute.
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As the two teams entered the second half of extra time under extreme strain, the first half of extra time finished in a goalless tie. After 120 minutes of high-intensity football and two significant scoring opportunities for each team, the game ended scoreless.
As a result, the dramatic game was decided on penalties, with England’s ten-woman team defeating Nigeria’s Super Falcons 4-2 at the end of the shootout.
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