Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured their first win at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France edging out Korea Republic 2-0 in their second Group A clash at the Stade des Alpes, Grenoble on Wednesday afternoon, reports Completesports.com.
An own goal scored by kim Doyeon in the 29th minute and a second half and Asisat Oshoala’s great goal gave the African champions the maximum points in the encounter.
Head coach of the side, Thomas Dennerby made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Norway last Saturday with Chiamaka Nnadozie, Chinaza Uchendu and Chidinma Okeke replacing Tochukwu Oluehi, Halimatu Ayinde and Faith Micheal in the starting line-up.
The Koreans, looking to make amend following a 4-0 thrashing by hosts France in their first game, started the game strongly but found the Falcons defence difficult to break down.
The Asians came close to scoring the curtain raiser through Lee in the 18th minute but Nnadozie produced a fine save to deny them.
Nigeria found the break through a minute before the hour mark when Kim Do-Yeon put the ball into her own net.
Rita Chikwelu played in a long ball from midfield and Kim, in an attempt to clear it, mistakenly sent it into her own net.
The Super Falcons maintained the advantage for the remaining part of the first half despite relentless pressure from the Koreans.
The pattern of the game continued after the break with the Nigerian Ladies defending deep amidst relentless attack from their opponent.
Oshoala however made the three points safe for Nigeria when she netted second goal 15 minutes from time.
Okeke dribbled past a South Korean player around the centre circle and played a beautiful pass to Oshoala who fended off her marker and slotted the ball home after also going past the Korean goalkeeper.
Despite a late flurry of attack from South Korea, the African champions stood firm with Nnadozie making a number of vital saves to deny the Asians.
The West Africans will face France in their final group game next week Monday.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
better performance this time
better performance this time
CSN, if Nigeria pip Korea Rep, what will you call a 1-0 scoreline? Please give full credit when it is due. Against Norway they lost 0-3 and we all complaint about the things we saw cost the loss. But today, the girls gave a good account of themselves and we must give them full credit.
Going forward, I think the coach still needs to change who should be her pointwoman. Oshoala definitely should be in the striking position. I said it against Norway and I’m saying it again, today. The two time she found herself in the striking position she scored on one of the two occasions (mind you, she plays that position for Barcelona ladies). Oparanozie should not be the point woman for the team. Against Norway she had no meaningful impact in the game. Today, she also had no real impact. Apart from the header she had in the second half, she had no real impact in the game (and this is the supposed pointwoman). She had about two breakaway opportunities and she fluffed both of them (on one of both occassions she just didn’t know what to do). If she continues to be the point woman, we may probably find it difficult scoring.
Also, the players that the coach has decided to use as midfielders are not just up to it. Ayinde should not be playing at all. Okobi has lost form and not pulling her strength in the midfield as she used to do. Chikwelu, well, I don’t know what to say. She is still playing the early 2000 football and collecting needless yellow card.
As for the old veterans in the backline, I think they held their own today and I give credit to Ebere. She dealt with everything that was thrown at her today. The young keeper showed that you don’t have to be in the team for so long to pull your weight. If you’re good, you’re good. It’s that simple and the young keeper got what it takes to remain the No 1 choice for now.
So, what do I think the coach should do? Start Oshoala as your striker in subsequent matches. Use more of the younger midfielders and keep Okeke in the team. Ordega is doing a great job. He needs to put Oparanozie on the bench, use Kanu or Imo in her place, and if she must start Oparanozie, she needs to start her from the flanks.
Once again, I say kudos to the girls for the win and for putting up a good display.
@josh I see your point on Asisat. You know that season Messi played as nmba 9,he set a goals record(in one calendar year) that no one has beaten till today.
Today, if you play Messi uptop, he would score even more than Suarez, but you see when a player has so many qualities,the coach thinks of the team first.
You would notice Asisat, like Messi has other qualities. Messi can play wide, play in the midfield, etc, and comfortably too. Now this is similar to Asisat, yes OK she’s ur best striker but she’s also ur best in other areas,eg dribbling,passing,etc,so the coach now decides to take advantage of that to help the team balance.
That’s exactly wat Barça is doing with Messi, not that Suarez is actually better than Messi as a striker.As I began to write this, I remembered that Barça has both Messi and Oshoala on their books. Hehe.
Not to worry, I think Mr Dennerby knows what he is doing.
I think oparanozie should keep her spot, just that oshoala plays too far from oparanozie. If oshoala comes closer to desire, she(oshoala) will benefit from desire’s physical presence, to create space, while desire will benefit from oshoala’s pace. Ordega should also draw closer. It’s how good teams get the most off physical players
With the good display of Chidinma Okeke in the defence today i implore Dennerby to discover more talents like that to replace our ageing defenders.
The likes of Ebi who is 35 yrs old and lacking in pace needs to make way for a fresh younger player with pace and power.
Apparently,we need more players like Okeke both in defence and defensive midfield areas respectively.
With this development,the super falcons have done their world rating a lot of good.Getting the better of a team with far better rating than you will help you up your ratings in the Fifa monthly rankings.
Dennerby has made us proud with this display against a team renowned in female football globally.We hope he keeps his position to lead this team to the next Olympics and world cup tournaments.I believe our performance in the next Afwon will surpass our lacklustre display in the most recent one.
I’m proud of the falcons and i hope this three points would be enough to see them through to the next round.I know the game against the host team France is a game they are expected to lose but hoping to keep the scoreline low to enhance their chances.
The Officiating is what seperates this match from the other and if we had a better officiating like this against Norway of which we dominated the first 10mins not until the ref started halting plays and demolarizing falcons in the process.
With neutral officiating African teams will do better i posted on this earlier today and i hope as fans we will start taking note of referees and their calls.
Against france i dont see any chance but we should try not to concede goals and keep a respectable scorline. I wish we had gotten a point from Norway things will have been alot brighter but then with God miracle happens.
You are very correct my brother, this exactly what i notice in our first match, there is time where our player was pull down by Norwegian player in the area and that should be penalty but the ref just wave play on.
What a great performance!!!
Kudos to these ladies.
With this win,I’m satisfied despite the outcome against France and going forward.
All we are saying is play to your strength,do your very best and hold your head up.
Kudos once again.
You did great.
@ josh u sabi watch ball joor….nice write up.to add to ur write up,our number 11 can’t remember her name is good,nice left foot and good awareness of the ball.
Some things we can glean from.
My comment the day of the Norway match:
“Oshoala brilliant as I expected, the best of them all today.
Oparanozie may have just lost her starting berth today.
Midfield was weak but the greatest challenge today was lack of confidence.
Do we still have a terrific coach? Definitely yes! He’s ONLY had one year, ONE year and few months to prepare . Playing against teams that took FOUR years or more to prepare.
So in context, they were impressive today. Let’s be measured not to be overly emotional. A loss doesn’t mean the team wasn’t impressive.
Pochetinno for example ddnt start his first season in Tottenham by winning something, but the club saw that he was gradually building something. That’s how football works anywhere.Has he really won anything till now? But during his time with Spurs,he has turned down Madrid and ManU.
So the Falcons didn’t surprise me after today’s performance,how much time was the coach given to prepare?Ofcourse and it’s not like you have the players at his continuous disposal, they are all in clubs. He’s building something and I can see that.He has since spoken of making the team younger, but you can’t do that in one yr and few months.
With what he has now, we can still qualify out of that group. We can dispatch S/korea,then go with confidence against France and try for a result. So very possible.
Yet even if it doesn’t turn out that way, I’ll be okay if I see that there is a frame work the coach has erected.
That’s how I view football.
For example I won’t grant Rohr that concession in this years Nations cup bcos he’s had more time to prepare plus he knows the African terrain so well.In any case,getting out of the group stage, won’t be so much of a challenge for d Eagles.
Go Falcons, nothing spoil.”
And for today,I briefly say:
Once again Oshoala has been brilliant, yeap fatigue affected her game towards the end,but she is absolutely pure class.
Midfield and defence much better this time and ofcourse overall you could notice an astute tactical discipline Coach Dennerby is known for.
I always say the our Nations Cup victory wasn’t exciting in terms of flair and even dominating the ball, but I could,at least, clearly see a new found tactical cognition in the team. That’s why some of us insist that the coach is building something.
Cheers