England on Monday danced on a razor’s edge to safe a Women’s World Cup quarterfinals spot after rising victorious in opposition to a spirited Nigerian aspect.
The contest, staged within the electrical environment of Brisbane’s grand area and witnessed by a roaring sea of practically 50,000 followers, had all of the makings of a traditional encounter – a tenacious battle that pushed each groups to their limits.
England’s Lionesses discovered themselves navigating the treacherous waters of additional time with solely 10 gamers.
A crimson card had been unfurled for his or her playmaker and protagonist, Lauren James, whose earlier heroics within the 6-1 demolition of China had earned her laurels however now threatened to solid a shadow over England’s ambitions.
With simply three minutes to go in regulation time, the heavens appeared to frown upon James as she unleashed a pointless stamp, drawing a crimson hue that may exile her from the upcoming conflict in opposition to both Colombia or Jamaica.
A suspension loomed massive, a bitter aftertaste of her earlier glory.
It was a pulsating duel of wits, with Nigeria asserting their would possibly, portray the pitch with a tapestry of possibilities and near-missed alternatives.
Yet, the previous colonizers stood their floor, resilient and unyielding, orchestrating a defensive ballet that held the rating at a steadfast 0-0 even after the sands of additional time had trickled away.
The curtains lastly closed on a charming act, and the highlight turned to the penalty shootout – a high-stakes dance of future.
Georgia Stanway stepped up first for England and dared to dream, solely to see her shot soar vast.
But destiny had its personal designs, and Desire Oparanozie, carrying Nigeria’s aspirations on her shoulders, echoed Stanway’s misfortune, veering vast in a mirror-image miss.
Beth England seized the second, burying her shot at the back of the web, a symphony of redemption.
However, Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie despatched her try careening excessive over the bar, a misstep that despatched ripples of benefit surging by way of the English ranks.
With the pendulum swinging their approach, Chloe Kelly, who had orchestrated the profitable tune within the European Championship ultimate a 12 months in the past, took her stance and, with a serene calmness, dispatched the decisive shot, sealing England’s passage into the quarterfinals.
The sidelines have been a theater of feelings, a canvas of contrasting narratives.
England’s coach, Sarina Wiegman, spoke of meticulous preparation, revealing the group’s secret arsenal of penalty apply that had geared up her warriors for this very second.
“We know how to do it, and we have the experience,” she mentioned.
On the alternative aspect, Nigeria’s supervisor, Randy Waldrum, wore his delight and disappointment with grace, commending his squad’s valiant effort regardless of the outcome.
“We had the best chances, we hit the crossbar twice in regulation play. We were a bit unlucky not to get something out of it,” he mentioned.
Home confidence
In a later tie, co-hosts Australia by no means regarded in hassle and reached the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Denmark.
The Matildas have by no means made it previous the quarterfinals at a World Cup however can have the possibility to realize their greatest outcome at residence in opposition to both France or Morocco, who play on Tuesday.
Caitlin Foord broke the impasse within the twenty ninth, sprinting down the left to conclude a improbable counter-attack for Australia.
Hayley Raso then smashed the ball into the web within the 71st to seal their spot within the quarters.
But the large crowd on the Stadium Australia was once more euphoric when prime star Sam Kerr got here on for her first look at her residence World Cup, which Australia is co-hosting with New Zealand.
Kerr was pressured to take a seat out throughout the group stage resulting from a calf damage picked on the eve of the match.
Denmark had the higher of the possession and territory, particularly within the first half, however struggled to be harmful in entrance of the objective for all their dominance.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
