Australia 2-3 Nigeria: Barcelona's Asisat Oshoala makes difference as Super Falcons overpower World Cup co-hosts – Sky Sports
Football
Match report as Nigeria beat World Cup co-hosts Australia to blow Group B wide open; Emily van Egmond broke deadlock but Uchenna Kanu found immediate reply; Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala made the difference from the bench, assisting Nigeria’s second and scoring their third
By Laura Hunter
Thursday 27 July 2023 18:44, UK
Australia’s chances of reaching the World Cup knockout phases of their home tournament hang in the balance after they fell to a shock 3-2 defeat to nifty Nigeria in Brisbane.
The co-hosts now face an uphill battle to qualify from Group B, with both Nigeria and Canada in pole position to progress – both locked on four points at the top of the standings.
The Aussies, still without captain and lead goalscorer Sam Kerr, lacked any real conviction in front of goal, having failed to capitalise on Emily van Egmond’s well-taken opener – which was immediately cancelled out by a leveller from Uchenna Kanu in first-half stoppage time.
Nigeria came out fired up after the break, and after weathering a brief Australia onslaught, launched their impressive counter-offensive, which served to stun Tony Gustavsson’s side into submission.
Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala, on from the bench, teed up Osinachi Ohale to steal the lead, before Oshoala herself benefited from some Australian indecision at the back to slot home in the 72nd minute.
Alanna Kennedy netted a consolation header in injury time, but that wasn’t enough to earn anything from a wonderfully entertaining encounter, and means Australia now need to beat Olympic champions Canada in their concluding Group B match to stand any chance of progression.
What a story – the first African nation to register a win at this summer’s tournament.
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The Matildas simply weren’t at the races. Considering the Nigerians had failed to score in six of their last seven World Cup ties, only had a 30 per cent share of possession, and had to come from behind, this result will be considered as one of the Super Falcon’s best ever.
Van Egmond had edged Australia ahead with a smart first-time finish, sweeping Caitlin Foord’s low delivery beyond the clutches of Chiamaka Nnadozie, but it was all Nigeria after that.
A frantic and disjointed Australian display was punished either side of the break, as Rasheedat Ajibade’s cross was steered home by Kanu, before super sub Oshoala stole the show.
With Australian hopes hanging in the balance, Oshoala set up Ohale to nudge Nigeria in front, before volleying into an open net to safeguard a historic win with 18 minutes remaining.
Defender Alanna Kennedy, who was partially at fault for Oshoala’s goal, cut the deficit to one after nodding a header beyond Nnadozie in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but Nigeria rode out the final seconds to claim one of their finest victories in their ninth appearance at a World Cup finals.
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson felt that his team performed admirably against a durable Nigerian side despite the result.
“I’m actually not that disappointed by the performance, but I am disappointed by the result. We created enough chances to score even more goals.
“The second-ball game cost us three goals tonight. We knew that Nigeria had various attacking threats. But part of the performance was definitely better than the result shows”.
A significant factor in the result was Oshoala’s impact, and her absence from the starting XI initially shocked the 50-year-old.
“It was a big surprise. They wanted to use speed against our centre-backs in transition, so they opted for three attackers instead”.
“I told the girls straight away there would be one more attacker of speed up top, not to get dispossessed or caught up, that we needed to be spot on, and we just weren’t.”
Gustavsson also provided more insight on the status of Kerr’s recovery heading into the final Group B clash with Canada on Monday.
“I know it’s going to be tight,” Gustavsson explained. “I probably won’t get confirmation on whether she’s available until the night before the game. We might even have to test her on the day of the game.
“She’s going to do anything she can to be out there. If she can be out there, she will be out there”.
Sky Sports’ Maryam Clark:
Plenty questioned Randy Waldrum’s decision to leave Oshoala on the bench, despite the fact that the Barcelona star was nursing a knock.
But the Nigerian head coach had a plan, and it unfolded perfectly.
The first part was simple: stick to the 4-2-3-1 shape. It created plenty of space to navigate in central areas, and it was much easier to keep the midfield congested enough that the Matilda’s could not weave their usual magic.
Waldrum admitted as much after the game when she stated: “They were throwing everything at us at the end, and the players just repelled everything.
“It’s a credit to them to put that kind of effort in to get this result. Who would have thought we’d score three goals against Australia?”
They didn’t just score three goals; they also stopped their opponents from netting more than once, and a low block was vital in cultivating that.
The hosts were denied access to the goal via central routes and were forced into the flanks. Yet even with 28 shots and 64 per cent possession, neither Foord nor Raso could deliver anything sturdy enough to convert.
Nigeria then delivered the final nail in the coffin by unveiling Oshoala in the 63rd minute, and the rest is history.
Group B play their final group games on Monday July 31. Nigeria take on already-knocked out Republic of Ireland while Australia take on Canada.
The group stage has begun and runs over a two-week period finishing on August 3. Group winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16, which takes place from August 5 to August 8.
The quarter-finals, which will be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, are scheduled for August 11 and 12.
The first semi-final will then be played on August 15 in Auckland, with the other semi-final taking place on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will then host the final on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
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