2023 Women World Cup: Falcons earns barren against Ireland

Posted : 01 August 2023

The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Monday earned a deserving barren draw against the Ireland ladies at the Brisbane Stadium to qualify for the knockout stage of the the 2023 Women World Cup co-hosted by Australia/New Zealand.

With the draw against Ireland, the Super Falcons have qualified for the third ever knockout stage of the women’s world cup.

The Super Falcons however notably missed the chance to top the Group B pairings as the host, Australia walloped the Olympics Women Football defending champions, Canada with a brilliant 3-0 scoreline at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Barcelona Femmine FC goal poacher, Asisat Oshoala was included in the starting line-up as she missed gasping scoring chances twice before she was pulled out in the second half.

One of the tormentors of the Matilda's in the last match, Uchenna Kanu also fired blank in the match to the consternation of the fans who were chanting for goals in the match.

Nigeria had lost six of their previous outings of the final group games except beating Denmark with 2-0 in 1999 and Canada 1-0 in 2011.

Nigerian coach, Randy Waldrum was full of encomium for his players saying things were not right initially but the players were resilient not losing a single game adding that he is unmoved facing either England or Denmark next.

Asked how he will celebrate with his girls without imported Irish Potatoes, the coach winked probably because he was with his players at a street Buka in Brisbane yesterday where an Akwa Ibom Chef gave the players and officials Fufu also called Akpu, with draw soup and Okporoko also called Mangala, in South East of Nigeria.

In the other match, Australia was brilliant with Hayley Raso of Real Madrid opening the goals account against Canada in the 9th minute as a Catley cross found her smoking and VAR check said no offside.

Raso scored again through a goal mouth melee and Raso slammed it in 37th minute but VAR ruled it off. She collected a pass sent to Sheridan who dilly dally with the ball and got her brace in the 39th minute.

Manchester City player, Mary Fowler scored the 3rd goal for Australia in the 58th minute through Foord who had done well beating the Canadian defence to pass to Fowler for the goal.

Canada and Australia were facing each other for the second time after playing 2-2 in their final group game in 2007. Australia had defeated a CONCACAF team, Jamaica 4-1 in 2019.

Australia had won 1-0 over Ireland and Nigeria drew goalless with Canada in the first round of the group; Canada beat Ireland 2-1 and Nigeria sent Australia to the Rest Room 3-2 in the group second round matches.

Co-hosts Australia is not like New Zealand who are out of the tournament. Australia tops Group B with 6 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 3; Nigeria is second chalking 5 points from a win and two draws, scoring 3 goals and conceding 2; Canada has 4 points from a win and a draw scoring 2 goals and conceding 4 while Ireland will avoid dodging in dustbins at Dublin in Ireland for she tried having a draw and scoring a lone goal while conceding 3 to rock the bottom of the group.

Australia faces runners-up of Group D and Nigeria in second place finish will face winner of group D in the Round of 16 matches.

Tomorrow Tuesday, August 1, Group E matches will be concluded at 0800 hours as Vietnam meets Netherlands at Forsyth Barr Stadium and Portugal try the Yankees of USA at Eden Park.

Group D matches will also be decided same tomorrow at 12 noon as the Lionesses of England tackle China at Hindmarsh Stadium and Haiti faces Denmark at NIB Stadium.

2023 Women World Cup: Falcons earns barren against Ireland

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics