Australia 2-3 Nigeria: Women’s World Cup 2023 Group B – Live Streaming Highlights

Nigeria now have their destiny in their own hands on Monday against Ireland. A draw will suffice for the Super Falcons.

Monday is now a must-win for Australia, and potentially the culmination of the last four years and the entirety of the Gustavsson project. Will Sam Kerr appear? Will Kyah Simon? Does it require wholesale changes?

HarryofOz is more phlegmatic. “One cannot deny that Nigeria probably deserved it. Two clinically taken goals and a good performance from them. And so, it’s on to Canada. An all or nothing win required. Fingers crossed that Kerr and Fowler will be available.”

Robert Moylan is frustrated. “This Matildas team has been exposed as a paper tiger and certainly not worthy of going far in the knockout stage- they don’t even deserve to make it to the next round. What an embarrassing game. Plenty of opportunities early but the finishes continue to be lousy. The passing, if it’s not lousy, is aimless.

But they do finally score (still plenty of doubts about this offense without Kerr), but give up a goal five minutes later right at the half. I mean, what good team allows something so stupid? And now two goals for Nigeria from substitutes and Gustavsson still has no answers.”

With Nigeria’s victory over Australia we don’t know who will win the Women’s World Cup,” emails Kurt Perleberg. Quite right. The decline from the euphoric send-off against France in Melbourne a few days ago, to the despair of this upset defeat and a packed treatment room, is staggering.

Monday night against Canada in Melbourne now looms as an enormous occasion.

The noise in Brisbane Stadium is deafening. Australia are throwing everything at Nigeria, but Nnadozie again is alert to the long ball and gathers calmly.

GOAL! Australia 2-3 Nigeria (Kennedy, 90+10)

Of course, Kennedy does score. Of course, it’s a header from a corner. Football. Lol.

GOAL! Australia 1-3 Nigeria (Oshoala, 72)

Wow! This is the stuff of dreams for Nigeria! Oshoala has transformed this game off the bench, and now she has extended her team’s lead. A hopeful ball over the top looked innocuous, but Kennedy and Arnold got their wires crossed, Ashoala nipped between the two and from the most acute angle calmly stroked the ball into the side of the net. She celebrates by removing her shirt as her teammates mob her. Incredible scenes in Brisbane.

GOAL! Australia 1-2 Nigeria (Ohale, 65)

And that corner leads to a goal! The initial delivery is headed up in the air. The second ball is won decisively by a Nigerian head, out to Ajibade, who nods a cross-shot – also with her head – that Arnold parries, but into the path of the onrushing Ohale, who bravely diverts the ball over the line as she travels with it into the back of the net!

Nigeria do have the quick equaliser! Ajibade teased Carpenter down the left, cut inside, drove a shot towards goal that deflects into the path of Kanu, who smuggles home from close range.

Gorry does superbly to cushion a volleyed pass into the path of Foord on the left wing straight from Nnadozie’s goal kick. The Arsenal striker does what nobody else so far tonight has managed to do – take her time and pick out a target in the penalty area. That target is Emily van Egmond, steaming in and stroking a low finish from the penalty spot. Lovely transitional goal.