Nigeria have been disillusioned to return away from their last Women’s World Cup group recreation towards Ireland with only a level however would have gladly accepted it earlier than kick-off in the event that they knew it meant reaching the final 16, coach Randy Waldrum stated.
Nigeria began the sport prime of the Group B standings however the 0-0 draw allowed co-hosts Australia to maneuver as much as first place after they thrashed Canada 4-0, which means the African facet look on target to face England within the final 16.
A pay dispute has overshadowed their marketing campaign, with the outspoken Waldrum saying he was owed seven months’ wages and a few of his gamers had not been paid in two years. However the American coach stated he was happy with what his facet achieved despite the complaints.
“I simply informed them that two years in the past, once we began this journey, so many issues went nicely and so many issues didn’t go nicely. They by no means gave up, they continued to imagine,” a smiling Waldrum stated after they sealed qualification for the final 16.
“, I used to be truly disillusioned within the second half as a result of we may have gained the match. So it nearly feels disappointing that we didn’t get the end result, the three factors. However all of us would have taken this end result earlier than we began the match simply to know we acquired via.”
Japan lay down marker with Spain thrashing
Elsewhere on Monday, Hinata Miyazawa grabbed two targets to turn out to be the match’s main scorer as former champions Japan placed on a counter-attacking clinic to beat Spain 4-0 and lock up prime spot in Group C.
Japan have been relentless on the counter towards Spain
(EPA)
Striker Riko Ueki additionally scored on the break as the Nadeshiko reduce via Spain’s excessive press with three lightning raids within the first half earlier than substitute Momoko Tanaka added the fourth with one other high quality strike eight minutes from time.
Japan, winners of the 2011 World Cup and runners-up in 2015, will stay within the New Zealand capital to play Norway within the final 16 on Saturday, whereas Spain – who equally to their opponents had already certified for the final 16 – will transfer north to Auckland to face Switzerland earlier on the identical day.
“Within the first and second video games, we had extra time to work with the ball however needed to be cautious of the counter-attack,” stated coach Futoshi Ikeda.
“On this match towards Spain, we knew we must defend for lengthy durations. So we knew we must benefit from each alternative we needed to play the sport we wished to. I believe have been profitable on this.”
Zambia finish match on a excessive
Debutants Zambia claimed their first-ever victory on the Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win over Costa Rica at Waikato Stadium, though each groups have been already out of rivalry for the knockout stage.
Zambia celebrated a first-ever World Cup win
(AP)
Zambia, whose first two video games led to 5-0 hammerings, completed third in Group C, as Costa Rica completed backside and didn’t choose up some extent of their three matches.
Defender Lushomo Mweemba scored the quickest purpose of the match thus far, with a spectacular volleyed effort at two minutes and 11 seconds, and captain Barbra Banda doubled the lead from the penalty spot simply after the half-hour mark. Melissa Herrera reduce the deficit two minutes after the break and Costa Rica pushed for an equaliser, however substitute Racheal Kundananji netted the third in stoppage time to make sure Zambia’s debut World Cup marketing campaign ended on a excessive.
“It’s a historic day,” Banda stated. “We’ve had quite a lot of help again dwelling so we wished to win right this moment … It was not a straightforward recreation for us. It was a battle.
“I’ve been practising penalties in coaching so I used to be assured. On the similar time, I used to be nervous, carrying the hopes of 1000’s of individuals again dwelling. It was an honour for me to take that penalty.”
Enjoying at their second World Cup, Costa Rica have been nonetheless looking for their first win within the competitors and scored two minutes after the break when ahead Herrera bundled the ball dwelling after goalkeeper Catherine Musonda was unable to clear it.
