Best Odds Center
best odds centre button
Click here!
Sport TV
watch live tv button
Click here!
to watch
Live FootBall
NPFL
Click here!
Live Scores
play watch Live Score button
Click here!

Paris 2024: Canarinhas pip Super Falcons to three points in Bordeaux

Posted : 26 July 2024

The Super Falcons were full of guts and determination, but a 37th-minute strike by Gabi Nunes separated the two-time Olympic silver medallists from the nine-time African champions as the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament got off to a thrilling start on Thursday.


Rasheedat Ajibade led the Falcons onto the turf of the Stade Matmut Atlantique, with Nigeria’s flag flying at the tournament for the first time in 16 years. She truly led from the front with some excellent runs down the left side against the South Americans.


However, her teammates upfront failed to read her moves correctly on several occasions when she delivered the ball into the box.


Her final pass, after a brave run down the line in the 7th minute, was blocked. In the 16th minute, she was the initiator of a double-barreled attack on the Brazilian goal, which saw Chinwendu Ihezuo’s shot blocked and Christy Ucheibe’s follow-up punched away.


In the 20th minute, Chiamaka Nnadozie saved from the rampaging Portilho and then effectively dealt with a long-range drive by Gabi Nunes five minutes later.


In the 36th minute, the ageless Brazil captain Marta thought she had given her team the lead when she struck past Nnadozie as the Falcons’ defense failed to clear, but she was ruled offside.


Moments later, the Nigerian defense was again caught off guard. Gabi Nunes, set free by a brilliant pass from Marta, fired past Nnadozie, with the ball hitting the underside of the bar and going in.


In the closing moments, the Falcons broke forward with a sweet team move, only for Jennifer Echegini’s shot to rise above the opposition goalpost.


On the hour mark, Marta’s dipping curl from the left was thwarted by the post, and Nnadozie saved from Ludmila three minutes later.


Ajibade forced another smart save from the Brazilian goalkeeper in the 71st minute, and Ucheibe did the same with minutes left. But the Canarinhas held on to secure all three points.


Next up for the Super Falcons is a clash with world champions Spain—who defeated Japan 2-1 in Group C’s opener—in Nantes on Sunday evening.

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics

close button
Please fill captcha :