Australia’s Matildas have been handed a shock enhance of their bid to high their group and attain the knockout stage on the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the very best seeding.
Less than 24 hours after an Australian facet lacking star striker Sam Kerr secured an important 1-0 victory over Ireland, underdogs Nigeria held closely fancied Canada to a 0-0 attract Melbourne.
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Canada, the world No.7 and reigning Olympic champions, had been anticipated to be Australia’s principal risk for high spot in Group B and comfortably see off world No.40 Nigeria.
But their shock draw leaves Australia clear on three factors, with Canada and Nigeria on one level and Ireland on zero with two group matches remaining every.
The high two groups after the group phases progress to the knockout spherical and ending high of the group can be key for match-ups for the rest of the event.
Canadian veteran Christine Sinclair had a penalty saved within the match, whereas Nigeria’s Deborah Abiodun decide up the primary pink card of this Women’s World Cup.
The 40-year-old skipper Sinclair is hoping to make historical past in Australia and New Zealand by turning into the primary participant to attain at six World Cups.
But she missed the prospect to succeed in that milestone in Melbourne as her penalty early within the second half was saved by goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
With few clear possibilities in any other case, that allowed the Super Falcons to return away with a morale-boosting attract Group B.
Canada have by no means gone past the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup however are hoping to go deep into this yr’s event on the again of profitable gold on the Tokyo Games in 2021.
However, that they had a disrupted build-up because the staff threatened to strike over pay, funding and contractual points.
They are additionally lacking key gamers as a result of harm and maybe proceed to rely too closely on Sinclair, the all-time high scorer in worldwide soccer.
Nigeria are showing at their ninth World Cup however had been themselves embroiled in controversy within the build-up because the staff clashed with their nationwide federation over bonuses.
They had even threatened to boycott their opening sport, however Randy Waldrum’s staff produced a spirited efficiency that offers them hope of matching their run to the final 16 4 years in the past in France.
Star striker Asisat Oshoala was unable to shine however the Nigerian defence gave away little in opposition to the Canadian assault.
The key second got here shortly after half-time, when a spot-kick was awarded following a VAR examine for a foul by Francisca Ordega on Sinclair.
Sinclair dusted herself all the way down to take the penalty however her kick was poor and Nnadozie was in a position to make the save.
Abiodun was dismissed deep in stoppage time on the finish of the sport after one other VAR evaluate, a yellow card being upgraded to pink.
Replays confirmed her catching Ashley Lawrence together with her studs above the ankle in a nasty problem.
With AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
