England Beat Brave Nigeria 4-2 on Penalties for World Cup
In a tense and nail-biting match, England’s national women’s football team scraped through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a hard-fought penalty shootout victory over Nigeria. Despite facing adversity with Lauren James’ red card, the European champions managed to secure their spot in the last eight when Chloe Kelly smashed in the winning kick.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams and their fans. The first penalty-taker for England, Georgia Stanway, fired wide, but Nigeria missed their next two efforts, allowing England to capitalize on the opportunity.
The turning point in the match occurred in the 87th minute when England’s Lauren James, in a moment of frustration after losing possession, stamped on Michelle Alozie’s back. Following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, James was rightfully shown a red card, leaving England to navigate extra time with just ten players.
Throughout the game, Nigeria executed their game plan masterfully, frustrating England with a disciplined defence, causing problems on the counterattack, and winning crucial duels. They even came close to scoring with shots hitting the crossbar in both halves.
England struggled to find their rhythm, and Nigeria maintained the momentum going into extra time. The match took place on a knife’s edge, and England supporters in Brisbane held their breath as their team fought to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Ultimately, England showed resilience and determination, fighting through the challenging match to emerge victorious in the penalty shootout. The win was all the more significant as it came just one day after back-to-back champions, the USA, were knocked out of the competition.
Nigeria’s manager, Randy Waldrum, praised his team’s efforts in escaping a challenging group and acknowledged that their performance against the European champions would have “significant implications” for the development of women’s football in Nigeria. Despite their exit from the tournament, Nigeria can leave with their heads held high, knowing they more than matched England throughout the game.
England’s captain, Millie Bright, made crucial last-ditch blocks, and goalkeeper Mary Earps was kept busy with numerous saves. The Lionesses showed resilience and composure under pressure, ultimately finding a way to secure the victory.
Next, England will face either Colombia or Jamaica in the quarter-finals on Saturday at 11:30 BST. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling matches and intense competition as the world’s best women’s football teams vie for glory in the Women’s World Cup.
