England advanced to the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigeria after surviving a grueling onslaught with only 10 players.
Despite the fact that the first penalty taker, Georgia Stanway, missed her penalty, Nigeria missed their next two attempts, and the European champions secured their place in the last eight when Chloe Kelly smashed in the winning kick.
Lauren James stamped on Michelle Alozie’s back in the 87th minute after losing possession, and she was rightly shown a red card after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
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England was given a scare, but will now face Colombia or Jamaica.
It was agonizing for England fans in Brisbane to watch England play 120 minutes on a knife’s edge and finish largely second best to Nigeria.
Because of James’ obstinacy, England had to play extra time with 10 players, and Nigeria had their tails up after a sustained period of pressure prior to the Chelsea star’s dismissal.
The 11-time African champions executed their strategy flawlessly, frustrating England, causing problems on the break, and winning nearly every duel.
Ashleigh Plumptre’s powerful drive ricocheted off the crossbar in each half, before Uchenna Kanu’s header looped over goalkeeper Mary Earps and bounced off the top of the bar.
Earps was kept busy the entire game, needing to make smart saves to deny Plumptre at her near post in the first half and later keeping out Uchenna Kanu, who had an outstanding performance.
Sarina Wiegman’s England team thought they had a penalty in the first half when Rachel Daly went down after claiming a push by Rasheedat Ajibade, but VAR overturned it.
Eventually, England stumbled to the end of normal time, lacking the fluidity they displayed so well against China, and held on to win in a shootout.
Only 24 hours earlier, back-to-back champions the United States had been eliminated from the competition, and England had to show grit to overcome one of Wiegman’s most difficult matches.
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