Women’s World Cup: Valiant Falcons Fall To England’s Lionesses on Penalties

England’s Lionesses are through to the quarter finals of the Women’s World Cup after knocking out Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a penalty shootout on Monday in the round of 16 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

The match was played vigorously by both teams, with the full time ending 0-0. The teams then went into extra time which also ended goalless.

In a shocking moment, England’s Lauren James was dismissed from the game after she received a red card for stomping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie’s back. As the game approached extra time, England had just 10 players available due to her withdrawal.

While the Lionesses applied pressure on the Super Falcons in their play, excellent goalkeeping from Nigeria’s goalkeeper and team captain, Chiamaka Nnadozie kept the Falcons in the game.

The game went to extra time and then penalties after neither side could break the deadlock, before England booked their place in the quarter-finals by winning 4-2 on penalties.

England missed the first penalty, but went on to score four, while Nigeria missed two out of four played.

England has now moved to the quarter finals, and will play either Jamaica or Colombia, depending on who wins the upcoming match. James, however, will sit out the next two matches due to her red card.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

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