Fortunate England Beat Nigeria on Penalties

It was a day that started with so much hope for England, sticking with the 3-5-2 that served them so well against China, and star holding midfielder Keira Walsh returning to the side. But it failed to live up to the billing somewhat for Lionesses fans, with the side dominated by an excellent Nigeria.

Despite having qualified for every Women’s World Cup, making the last eight back in 1999, the Super Falcons are ranked just 40th in the world. They defied that ranking for most of the game though, and throughout the game it looked more likely than not that they would become the first African team to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout match.

After a dangerous ball in, left back Ashleigh Plumptre, a former England youth international, hit the bar from 20 yards out. England failed to clear their lines and Plumptre had a second attempt Mary Earps, who was much busier than she was in the group stage, forced into a save.

England took 23 minutes to register an attempt on goal, Russo seizing a poor pass on the edge of the box, forcing a save from captain Chiamaka Nnadozie. And just after the half hour mark, England looked to have a golden opportunity to take the lead when Rachel Daly was lightly shoved in the back by Rasheedat Ajibade. The referee awarded the penalty without hesitation, but was advised to have another look on the pitch side monitor and overturned her earlier decision.

When play restarted, Nigeria were straight back on the attack. Jess Carter had to make a goal saving block, putting her body on the line and the ball out for a corner, from which Plumptre headed wide at the back post.

This is a great example of what was perhaps Nigeria’s biggest strength in the game, their transitional play. Flooding the box and stifling England, who faced nine shots in the first half. That’s more than they’ve faced in any other game so far at this World Cup and more than they’ve faced in the first half of any game under Sarina Wiegman.

Randy Waldrum’s side were really well organised, holding their shape, marking player-to-player in the middle and limiting James’ threat by being aggressive in their closing down. England didn’t have time on the ball, unless when playing in front of Nigeria. Their movement both in and out of possession had to be better, even Sarina Wiegman, who is normally the image of calm visibly frustrated, urging her players to up the tempo.

Nigeria started the second half on the front foot too, going close once more just a couple of minutes after the restart when Uchenna Kanu, who played really well, rattled the bar at the back post.

England’s best chance of the game came when Alex Greenwood put a perfect ball to the back post from the free kick, Alessia Russo got her head to it, but couldn’t direct it goalwards.

Looking to keep up the pressure and push for the goal their performance deserved, on the hour mark Nigeria made a change in their forward line. A five time African footballer of the year, and two time Champions League winner with Barcelona, for whom she’s scored 99 in 135 games, Asisat Oshola was a pretty good substitute.

With a quarter of an hour to play, Rachel Daly had a free header at the front post. She struggled to generate enough power behind it, but it still looked goal-bound before an exceptional reflex save from Nnadozie, an excellent young goalkeeper and her country’s captain at just 22.

In the 84th minute, Lauren James was booked for stamping on the back of a Michelle Alozie. After a VAR review, a red card was rightly given for Violent Conduct. Having already been on the back foot for most of the match, they were now a player down, without one of their stars.

After nine minutes of added time, the 90 minutes ended level. Having been fortunate to get to this point in the match, England looked leggy, and would now have to play another half hour a player down, yet Sarina Wiegman had only made one change: the 88th minute introduction of Chloe Kelly in place of Alessia Russo.

England were fortunate not to concede a penalty three minutes into the extra thirty. Lucy Bronze barged into the back of Michelle Alozie, who went down holding her head. Play was stopped, but nothing was given. Even someone looking through the strongest possible Bronze-tinted glasses would have to admit that it was very clumsy at best.

Alozie fired into the side netting soon after, the closest anyone got to a goal in a more cagey Extra Time period.

Sarina Wiegman made two more substitutions, Lauren Hemp being replaced at half time by Bethany England, who hoofed a stoppage time cross away as Nigeria looked to avoid the dreaded shootout, and Manchester United’s set piece specialist Katie Zelem came on for Keira Walsh in the final minute, perhaps with spot kicks in mind.

Georgia Stanway stepped up first, England having won the toss, and blazed her penalty wide, despite having previously never missed a penalty for England. Desire Oparanozie proceeded to do the same, also going to the keeper’s right.

Bethany England was up next, and placed her effort in the top right corner, giving Nnadozie no chance despite going the right way, before Michelle Alozie skied her penalty over the bar. After two penalties apiece it was 1-0 England.

Rachel Daly was next, slamming her effort into the top left corner, before Rasheedat Ajibade just about managed to convert too, Mary Earps not quite getting enough on the ball to keep it out.

Alex Greenwood calmy slotted into the bottom right corner, sending Nnadozie the wrong way, meaning that Christy Ucheibe would have to score to keep Nigeria in it. She didn’t let the pressure get to her as she coolly found the back of the net.

And then, the one for the big moments. She scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final. She scored the winning penalty against Brazil in the Finalissima . She couldn’t do it again, could she?

It was Chloe Kelly to send England through to the World Cup quarter finals, and with a hop, she smashed the ball into the top left corner.

Much credit has to be given to Nigeria, who executed their game plan to a tee, and were excellent technically, not just physically as Ashleigh Plumptre was at pains to point out after the game, rightly calling out how often the technical quality African players and teams gets overlooked by the media. Having just left Leicester City, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her sign for a much bigger WSL team in the coming weeks.

This was the first game in Sarina Wiegman’s two year tenure where her management was really questioned. Players looked tired and yet she didn’t make many changes, and not until late on.

Lauren James has been taken off in games in the previous match, in which she’d thrived, there’s an argument to say that the 21 year old, who is at her first major tournament, and had been frustrated by the almost constant ‘man-marking’ from Halimatu Ayinde should have been taken off earlier, before mental fatigue set in to impair her decision making. Of course, this doesn’t excuse what she did, but could her two match ban have been avoided?

England will now have to face Colombia, another surprise package, the only side from the Americas to make the last eight. There are of course issues all over the world in women’s football, England’s players are also in dispute about their bonuses, like Nigeria. If there is one thing to take from this tournament, it’s that there talent all over the world, but the funding needs to catch up, players need to be treated properly and given what they’re owed.