After a 0-0 tie in regulation and extra time, England eliminated Nigeria from the Women’s World Cup on penalties.
The 40th-ranked Nigerian team was up against the Lionesses, who won the European Championship at a sold-out Wembley Stadium in London last year, but they were outplayed by the Super Falcons squad.
The Nigerian team was deadly when going on the attack, and they frequently gave the European champs a great scare.
Ashleigh Plumptre, a star for the Super Falcons, had two excellent chances to start the scoring. The first was a strike from outside the box that hit the crossbar in the 16th minute. A minute later, she caused Mary Earps to make a great diving save.
In the 87th minute, England’s leading scorer Lauren James was dismissed for an irate stamp on Michelle Alozie’s back after the two collided and fell to the ground in a tangled heap. This forced England to play with 10 players.
The Chelsea star was being dispossessed by Alozie as she attempted to lead a counterattack. James argued that she had been fouled and when the official denied her request for a free kick, she left her studs on Alozie’s back as soon as she stood back up.
James, who was grabbed by Nigerian defenders during the game, was initially given a yellow card by the referee. However, after the act of petulance, VAR suggested a review, and the yellow card was raised to a red one.
It was Millie Bright’s first red card since Millie Bright was dismissed during the USA’s 2019 World Cup semi-final loss that England received under Sarina Wiegman.
The Lionesses prevailed 4-2 as the game went to penalties, with replacement Chloe Kelly putting the finishing touches on the victory after Beth England, Rachel Daly, and Alex Greenwood had already scored from the spot.
Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie of Nigeria missed their first two attempts in the shootout, which gave the Super Falcons the advantage.
With Nigeria knocked out of the World Cup by England, Morocco now remains the only African side in the ongoing competition as South Africa and Zambia had been eliminated earlier.