THE Matildas have slumped to a disastrous 3-2 loss to Nigeria and will likely have to beat Canada without Sam Kerr to avoid a group stage exit at their home Women’s World Cup.<\/p>\n
Australia (three points, goal difference 0) sit third in Group B behind Nigeria (four points, +1) and Canada (four points, +1) after letting a 1-0 lead slip at Suncorp Stadium yesterday (Thursday, July 27).<\/p>\n
It means a draw against world No.7 Canada in Melbourne on Monday, July 31 likely won’t be enough to reach the round of 16.<\/p>\n
Emily van Egmond, who replaced the concussed Mary Fowler as Australia’s secondary striker alongside Caitlin Foord, scored the opener in the first minute of first-half added time.<\/p>\n
Nigeria took the wind out of Australia’s sails five minutes later when Uchenna Kanu equalised with the final kick of the first half.<\/p>\n
In the second half, Australia’s attack failed to capitalise on chances while their defence completely fell apart in front of 49,156 fans.<\/p>\n
Osinachi Ohale toe-poked Nigeria ahead in the 65th minute and Asisat Oshoala pounced on a defensive mix-up seven minutes later to seal Nigeria the three points.<\/p>\n
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson didn’t make any attacking changes until bringing on Alex Chidiac in the 85th minute.<\/p>\n
Eventually they found the net, Alanna Kennedy heading home from a corner 10 minutes into added time.<\/p>\n
Ellie Carpenter then had a shot to secure a miracle draw saved in the final moments as the Africans hung on.<\/p>\n
“Everyone saw the emotions … the momentum that gave,” Gustavsson said of his team’s first goal.<\/p>\n
“The emotion goes completely opposite when we concede in the last thing that happens (in the half).”<\/p>\n
He thought the Matildas recovered well though and was “not that disappointed about the performance, but I’m disappointed by the result” given they had 28 shots on goal to Nigeria’s 11.<\/p>\n
“Physical recovery is one thing, but the mental as well,” he said of how they’d respond against Canada.<\/p>\n
“But we saw it (their resilience) in the last 10 minutes … backs against the wall, they came out and played good.”<\/p>\n
The Matildas scored when Nigeria turned the ball over from a corner and Gorry burst forward and worked the ball forward to Foord.<\/p>\n
The striker had the presence of mind to square it to van Egmond, who coolly steered it into the bottom corner but Nigeria had the rapid reply.<\/p>\n
The world No.39 called on Barcelona star Oshoala in the 64th minute and they took the lead a minute later.<\/p>\n
Ajibade headed the ball across the face and Ohale bundled it home.<\/p>\n
Seven minutes later, under pressure from Oshoala, Kennedy attempted to head a Nigeria long ball back to Arnold but instead knocked it into the striker’s path to complete the Matildas’ undoing.<\/p>\n
“So many didn’t believe in me and the team,” Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum said.<\/p>\n
“That (first goal) was huge … then it was just a matter of telling the players ‘Go for it’ and the changes we made all worked.<\/p>\n
“They’re still singing and dancing now, I can’t get a word in edgeways.”<\/p>\n
SNAPSHOT OF AUSTRALIA’S WORLD CUP GAME AGAINST NIGERIA<\/p>\n