Nigeria’s Super Falcons have crashed out of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup after suffering a 1-0 defeat against the United States to finish bottom of group D.
An Abby Wambach volley seconds before half-time earned the US ladies a 1-0 victory over Super Falcons in Vancouver, which sent them through as Group D winners.
The Nigerian team which needed a victory against their opponent to remain in the tournament after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Australia last week managed to keep the game well balanced in the first 45 minutes until Wambach struck Megan Rapinoe’s corner home at the far post.
Asisat Oshoala had squandered the best chance to put Nigeria in the lead in the 24th minute, but defender Johnston executed a perfectly timed tackle to interrupt her shot. Besides that, the Super Falcons barely managed to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Rapinoe threatened Dede’s goal twice from long range, and Alex Morgan nearly doubled the Americans’ lead just after the interval but couldn’t lift it over the Super Falcons goalkeeper as she once again denied the American with 30 minutes remaining.
Things became more difficult for the Falcons in the 69th minute, when Sarah Nnodim picked up a second yellow card as a result of bringing down Sydney Leroux just outside the area. With their numerical advantage, USA kept possession well, with smart, experienced play delighting a significant majority of the 52,193 crowd at BC Place.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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