Nigeria stunned Australia 3-2 in a thrilling Women’s World Cup match on Thursday, claiming a historic victory over the co-hosts.
The Super Falcons had never beaten Australia in a World Cup match before, but they came out firing on all cylinders in Brisbane. Uchenna kanu found the net at 45+6′, Asisat Oshoala scored, while Osinachi Ohale also found the net, as Nigeria claimed a famous victory.
The win puts Nigeria in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament
🇦🇺 @TheMatildas get the breakthrough late in the first half!!@Em_surf | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 27, 2023
The match started at a frenetic pace, with both teams creating chances Australia’s Emily van Egmond score the first goal of the match in the first minute of stoppage time of the first half and Nigeria come from behind and tied it up the score in the 6th minute of stoppage time when Nigeria’s Uchenna kanu score goal just before the half time to equalize the score
Australia looked the better team for most of the half, but the Super Eagles looked dangerous every time they broke and clearly have quality in their team.
Nigeria demonstrated that quality truly does win out over quantity by shooting off six shots, of which five found their mark, as opposed to the Matildas, who fired off a massive 17 shots, of which only six found their mark.
Nigeria defeated a formidable Australian team in the second half with a strong defensive performance. In the end, they were more methodical in their assaults, and Asisat Oshoala’s class, after being substituted.
⚽️SHOALA!!! 🇳🇬@AsisatOshoala | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 27, 2023
The Matildas were slick in their attacking build-up, but they lacked a clear finisher, with the likes of Kerr missing. There 64 percent possession meant nothing in the end, thanks to some clinical Nigerian finishing and heroic defensive might.
It was a performance that alternated between fierce, up-against-the-wall defence and deft, free-flowing attacking.
Nigeria’s celebrations on the pitch after the game ended indicate that there would be many hoarse voices in the team’s changing room the following day. However, the players and supporters might dare to think that possibly this could be Nigeria’s tournament with four points from two games
‘We had that belief together we could accomplish great things’: Waldrum
Randy Waldrum, Nigeria’s manager, speaking after the game: “I’m so proud of them [the Nigeria players]. I told them after the match no one believes in us, apart from us, and we had that belief together we could accomplish great things, and we did that tonight”.
Waldrum added: “I told Oshoala before the match that I needed her to give us the last thirty minutes. I felt very strongly she was going to get a goal, and she got the game-winning goal, so extremely proud of the effort.
“They [Australia] were throwing everything at us at the end, and the players just repelled everything, and I think it’s just a credit to them to put that kind of effort in, to get this result.”
‘I want to fight for this badge, this is the best country in the world’: Oshoala
Oshoala, speaking after the game, said: “Everyone went out to play their heart out.”
“This team has a lot to offer, and the world has seen that today,” added the Nigeria star.
“I want to fight for this badge; this is, you know, the best country in the world. Nigeria for life!”
Lineups :
Australia (4-4-1-1, right to left): 18-Arnold (GK) — 21-Carpenter, 14-Kennedy, 15-Hunt, 7-Catley — 16-Raso (Chidiac 85′), 19-Gorry, 23-Cooney-Cross, 5-Vine (Polkinghorne 82′)— 10-Van Egmond — 9-Foord.
Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 16-Nnadozie (GK) — 22-Alozie, 3-Ohale, 14-Demehin, 2-Plumptre (Ogbonna 76′)— 10-Uchiebe, 22-Ayinde (Echegini 76′) — 12-Kanu (Okornokowo 63′), 7-Payne (Ebi 90′), 18-Ajibade — 6-Onumonu (Oshoala 63′).
Australia vs Nigeria Final Score
| Teams | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final Score |
| Australia | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Nigeria | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Goals :
Australia : Emily van Egmond 45+1′
Nigeria : Uchenna kanu 45+6′
Nigeria : Osinachi Ohale 65′
Nigeria : Asisat Oshoala 72′
Australia : Alanna Kennedy 90+10′
Goal Scores
Foord runs down the left wing and cuts the ball across the box.
Egmond’s run is perfectly timed, and she passes the ball across the goalkeeper and into the goal.
The crowd goes wild!
45+1 mins: Australia 1-0 Nigeria
Nigeria with an equaliser!
Ajibade dances past Carpenter before firing in a cross which is deflected and loops into the path of Kanu, who places it in the corner from close range.
45+6 mins: Australia 1-1 Nigeria
NIGERIA LEAD! It’s been turned home from close range by Ohale, who gets at the back post to head it home after some poor defending from the Matildas. Massive moment in Brisbane!
65 mins : Australia 1-2 Nigeria
NIGERIA DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE! Poor defending once again from Australia, as a hopeful long ball is met by Kennedy, but she tries to nod it back to Arnold, where Oshoala gets in front and turns it home from a tight angle. Australia are staring down the barrel of defeat in Brisbane!
72 mins : Australia 1-3 Nigeria
Kennedy rises above Nigeria’s defensive line to power a header into the goal from a corner.
This is a thriller!
90+9 mins: Australia 2-3 Nigeria
Australia Must Win Next Match
Poor second half performance lead to shocking loss to Matildas as there attack were clunky and distant comfortably by Nigeria’s defence.
They are now only a match and 90 minutes away from the ignominy of being the first Women’s World Cup host country to fail to make it out of the group, and they will have to beat a energized Canada side fresh off a win.
Group B Points Table
An action-packed day shuffles the group standings. 🔀
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 27, 2023
All eyes are on Group B and E’s last fixture. 👀
Who will we see in the knockout stages? #FIFAWWC | #BeyondGreatness