Nigeria denied famous win as England reach last-8 on penalties

A footballing lottery, and England managed to hit the jackpot; Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Brisbane, Australia: Nigeria might have deserved to win, but England managed to hold the tenacious Super Falcons in a goalless draw, before clawing their way to the quarterfinals, winning 4-2 on penalties with Euros hero Chloe Kelly scoring the decider.

A frustratingly poor showing from the reigning European champions had them on the ropes for the majority of regulation time, the boiling point arriving when star-kid Lauren James stepped on Michelle Alozie in the 85th minute, earning herself a red card, and a possible multi-match ban to add to England's misery.

That frustration was for the most part, a result of the tactical superiority and rigid defensive organization shown by Nigeria, with close chances for Ashleigh Plumptre as her shot hit the post, among others. Billed as the underdogs, they were denied a chance to write new history by becoming the first African nation to progress to the last-8.

“I think everybody counted us out against England,” said Plumptre, a former U17 English international. "And I’m telling you, after this game, I’m tired of people just saying that African teams are just strong, and they’re just fast, and count us out as being technical or tactical."

The fluid system that England coach Sarina Weigmann adopted in the game against China was seemingly placed in a checkmate, as Nigeria clogged up the wings and left Russo and Hemp isolated for the majority of the 120 minutes. Even the returning Keira Walsh couldn't work her magic in the midfield, with the narrow three-woman backline absorbing considerable pressure on transitions. 

England were running blind in Nigeria’s half; Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

It's no surprise then, that Nigeria had the first real attempt, as a corner was headed away nicely by Alozie, but cleared by Russo in the 13th. As the confidence snowballed, the Super Falcons swarmed into England's half, with Plumptre's thundering shot well beating Mary Earps, but clattering off the crossbar, before Earps was tested again in the 17th minute.

England would eke most mere whispers of protest; Russo pounced on a sloppy clearance from Oluwatosin Demehin and tried to catch an off-position Nnadozie by surprise, but failed to beat the Nigerian skipper. Daly would be at the receiving end of a corner shortly after, her volley with considerable venom, but aimed straight at Nnadozie.

The clouds looked to have parted around the 30 minute mark, when the referee pointed to the spot as Daly was thought to be fouled in the box, only for a VAR review to overturn the decision, the crowd roaring in approval. Nigeria would continue to land heavy blows, with crucial blocks denying Ajibade and Uchiebe from close-range.

England would be saved momentarily by the half-time whistle, but there were no real changes in fortunes in the second half, which was heralded by Uchenna Kanu's header rattling the crossbar. Rocked and dazed, any attempt at ball progression from the Lionesses simply fizzled out in the face of rigid and spirited defending from the Nigerians.

With 5 minutes remaining, England received the biggest blows of them all, when James, marked out of the game by Ayinde, stepped on Alozie lying on the pitch after the latter firmly held off James. An instant yellow card was upgraded to a red after a VAR review, but at that time there were real concerns whether England would be playing another match in the tournament.

Beckham-esque, for all the wrong reasons; Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Nigeria were unexpectedly the favourites now, with England having their backs to the wall, and somehow they persevered. The fort-like defence of Bright, Carter and Greenwood was challenged by a litany of crosses, but they didn't budge, and held out till penalties.

Stanway, the sole scorer from the opening match against Haiti, blew her shot well wide and Nigeria's desire for a spot in the last-8 seemed inevitably fulfilled, only for substitute Desire Oparanozie to miss in a shockingly similar manner. Beth England, Greenwood, Daly, and Kelly would confidently convert from the spot, as Lady Luck looked to have deserted the Super Falcons; with standout Alozie's effort going into the stands.

Kelly (middle in white) and Greenwood (left) try to console Nnadozie (in yellow); Naomi Baker/Getty Images

A World Cup with a burning hatred for the formbook, fortunes flipped between sides, as favourites England were forced to become the underdogs, and somehow prevailed over near-peerless Nigeria.  

"It’s amazing. Anything that’s thrown at us, we show what we’re capable of." said Kelly. "We dig deep as a group and we believe in our ability."

For Nigeria, the result and valiant performance could provide a bulletproof rhetoric to power their demands and fight against their own federation. While Sarina Weigman's side would look for considerable overhauls, especially in the absence of James.