Women’s World Cup: Nigeria Holds Canada To A Crucial 0-0 Draw
Nigeria’s Women’s World Cup debut against Olympic champions Canada ended in a valuable 0-0 tie thanks to goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s penalty save, which left the group stage wide open.
On Wednesday, the Republic of Ireland will play the Canadians.
In front of 21,000 spectators at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Nnadozie just missed Christine Sinclair’s attempt to score from the penalty spot in the 50th minute with a low dive to her left.
Nigeria was down to 10 players after a physical, scrappy match, and both nations gained points to close the gap on Group B leaders Australia to two after the co-hosts’ 1-0 victory over Ireland on Thursday.
“We’ve got to move on very quickly, you know, you can get lost and be down on that,” said Canada coach Bev Priestman, whose team next faces Ireland in Perth on Wednesday.
“Of course, the team and I are devastated. We didn’t get three points. But at the end of the day we got one and we took two from another team.”
Both sides had their chances but 40-year-old Sinclair, who came off ashen-faced in the 70th minute, was perhaps the most frustrated, having also missed a good opportunity when she fired wide in the ninth minute.
Nigeria, the lowest-ranked team in the group, defended desperately to hold out the Canadians, and a roaring Nnadozie slumped to her knees, pumping her fists in celebration after the final whistle.
“I’m probably going to embarrass her, but I think she’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the world today,” said Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum.
“I think Chiamaka’s save really kind of lit the fire and made us realise there’s still something to play for.”
A studs-up tackle by midfielder Deborah Abiodun in stoppage time resulted in a red card for Nigeria, which VAR upgraded from a yellow. She will miss their upcoming matchup with Australia.
Before the game, Canada’s dynamic midfielder Jessie Fleming was ruled out due to injury, which affected the team’s clumsy transitional play.
While Jordyn Huitema also missed the target late in the first half, Sinclair found space on the perimeter of the area early and blasted wide to the right.
Although the Africans had trouble scoring, Ifeoma Onumonu forced goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to make a diving save at the far post in the 23rd minute after unleashing from long range.
When Sheridan sprinted off her line 10 minutes before halftime and attempted to clear the ball, she nearly gave Nigeria the lead.
However, the near post cross from Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala was stopped, leaving both teams disappointed as the half ended.
After the break, Sinclair was hauled down in the box by Francisca Ordega, and a VAR-awarded penalty resulted, adding to Canada’s anguish.
Sinclair’s weak shot was stopped by Nnadozie, who also stopped substitute Evelyne Viens, who latches onto a header in the box and volleys right into the keeper’s arms.
