By Ahn Hong-seok = ‘European Champions’ England overcame a numerical disadvantage to defeat Nigeria on penalties and reach the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023.
The Three Lions defeated Nigeria 4-2 on penalties on Sunday at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, in the Round of 16 after 120 minutes of 0-0 stalemate.
England, ranked No. 4 in the FIFA World Rankings, were threatened by a player being sent off in the final minute of regulation time, but held on for 30 minutes of extra time with a stiffer defense than they have shown since the win.
England are the reigning European champions, having won the 2022 Women’s European Championship on home soil.
With top-four finishes in Canada 2015 and France 2019, the Three Lions will be looking to win their first-ever World Cup title at the tournament.
England will face the winner of the Colombia-Jamaica match at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 for a spot in the semifinals.
Nigeria, ranked No. 40, failed to win its first game of the tournament.
Nigeria has made the tournament twice before, in 1999 in the United States and 2019 in France, but both times they were eliminated in the first round.
The turning point in a tight game came in the 42nd minute when England midfielder Loren James was sent off for an unsportsmanlike foul.
James tangled with Nigerian defender Michel Alozie and stomped on Alozie’s buttocks as he got up after falling.
The referee initially showed a yellow card, but after a video assistant referee (VAR) on-field review, he changed it to a red.
Nigeria went into extra time with a numerical advantage, but the game was not going to tip easily.
England’s tenacious defense kept the Nigerian attack at bay, and the game went to penalty kicks.
England had all of their players convert their shots except for Georgia Stanway, who took the first kick.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s first kicker, Onome Ebi, and second kicker, Alozie, missed.
Hosts Australia advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Denmark at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia.
The Socceroos will reach the semifinals for the first time in their history with a win in the quarterfinals on Wednesday against the winner of the France-Morocco match.
The Socceroos took the lead in the 29th minute on a goal by Caitlin Poord and made it 2-0 in the second 25 minutes when Haley Lasso converted an Emily Van Egmond backpass with a right-footed shot.토스카지노
In the 35th minute, Australia’s “captain” Sam Kerr, who had been sidelined with a calf injury, took the field for the first time in the tournament, replacing Lasso.
The home fans roared as loudly as they did when Kerr, Australia’s biggest star, was introduced.