FIFA Women World Cup: Redemption Victory For Nigeria

• As Super Falcons beat South Korea 2-0

Nigeria’s Super Falcons put their World Cup campaign in France back on track as they soared to a 2-0 victory over South Korea.

Taking their chances against the run of play, the Nigerians gave a good account of themselves in stunning their Asian counterparts for a rare success that set now them up to possibly make it to the knockout stages.

A first-half own goal at the Stade des Alps in Grenoble and a breakaway attack, brilliantly finished by Asisat Oshoala, gave the Africa champions only their fourth win in eight World Cup finals appearances and a chance to go to the next phase for only the second time.

The Koreans, beaten 4-0 by France in the tournament’s opener last Friday, are now in considerable trouble after a surprise setback in their second Group A match.

After weathering early attacks from the Asian ladies, Nigeria went ahead when the defender Kim Do-yeon miscued an effort trying to clear a long ball through the middle and steered it past her goalkeeper, Kim Min-jung, who had come rushing out and was stranded.

There was a lengthy VAR review to see whether Nigeria’s captain, Desire Oparanozie, might have brushed the ball with her hand as it headed towards the net but there was no conclusive evidence to rule out the goal.

It was a bad day for the South Koreans as they were ruled offside when the ball found the net in the 58th minute.

Things further got worse for the Asians as Oshoala, the three-times Africa women’s player of the year, ran almost half the length of the field on a counterattack, brushed past a defender, rounded the goalkeeper and squeezed the ball home from an almost improbable angle.

She might have scored in similar fashion shortly afterwards but a heavy first touch saw the opportunity slip away from her.

Nigeria lost their opening game 3-0 to Norway in Reims on Saturday.

In the second Group A match, hosts nation, France continue their impressive run in the tournament with a 2-1 victory over fellow Europeans, Norway.

A penalty by Eugenie Le Sommer, after Marion Torrent was fouled by Ingrid Syrstad Engen, saw the hosts earning their second successive win after a determined Norway had looked like securing a point.

Cheered on by a crowd of 34,872 in Nice, the French had to dig deep to seal victory against Scandinavians. They now top the Group with six points from two games – three ahead of second-placed Norway and third-placed Nigeria.

Despite all but securing a place in the knockout stage, Coach Corinne Diacre maintains that the French ladies are still ‘outsiders’ for the Women’s World Cup trophy.

Their last group encounter against Nigeria comes up on Monday (20:00 BST). – With agency reports

GROUP A STANDINGS