Homehttps://server7.kproxy.com/servlet/redirect.srv/sruj/smyrwpoii/p2/Sporthttps://server7.kproxy.com/servlet/redirect.srv/sruj/smyrwpoii/p2/Germany 3-0 Nigeria: Women's World Cup 2019, last 16 – if it happened | Football
Germany 3-0 Nigeria: Women's World Cup 2019, last 16 – if it happened | Football
Germany were deserved winners, dominating possession, scoring three, keeping yet another clean sheet. But Nigeria performed with great resolve and no little skill. That run from Rasheedat Ajibade early in the second half was as exhilarating as football gets. Had Desire Oparanozie got a toe on Ajibade's cross to half the deficit, this would have been a lot of tighter. Nigeria will also point to the questionable VAR call that allowed Germany's first goal to stand, with Svenja Huth standing in front of Chiamaka Nnadozie, offside, arguably interfering with play. But Germany had too much, just in second gear, when Alexandra Popp scored her 48th international goal while Lea Schuller bagged a clinical first at a World Cup. They had to quarters having four, four, nine, conceded none. Imagine what they might do if they start playing well!
90 min +1: No, but this wasn't half close. Oparanozie creams the free kick towards the top right. It's a pearler, but inches across the crossbar. That would have been three or four inches lower.
90 min: Ordega sashays in from the left and is unceremoniously upended by a sliding Oberdorf. A free kick just to the left of the box, 25 yards out. Can Nigeria find a consolation and become the first team to score against Germany at this World Cup?
89 min: Huth makes a right-to -live diagonal run and nearly dribbles in a shooting position just inside the Nigerian box. But she ends up down a cul-de-sac. A fourth goal would be hard on Nigeria
85 min: That was a stunning finish by Schuller. She hasn't done a great deal today, but when a chance is presented itself she really delivered. Birgit Prinz or Gerd Muller would have been proud of that.
It's all over. Ayinde dithers over the ball while facing her own goal under pressure. She attempts a backpass to the keeper, but can not buy enough on the panicked pass, and it sits up short for Schuller, who takes a stride down the inside-right channel before fizzing a clinical first-time shot into the bottom left
81 min: Hegering suffers another whack, this time from Ajibade's elbow, planted in the back of her head as the pair contest a high ball. It was more clumsy than malicious, but Ajibade is going into the book.
79 min: Some baroque dribbling by the fresh Oberdorf down the left. She cuts inside and rolls a gorgeous pass down the channel to release Dabritz into the box. Dabritz only has Nnadozie to beat, but she's coming in from a tight-ish angle, and drags her shot across the keeper and out of play to the right of goal. That could have put this game to bed. If it is, Nigeria is still in this. But they need something soon
77 min: A free kick for Nigeria just inside the German half. It's launched into the mixer. Okobi rises just inside the area, and gets a header on target, but she's too far out and there is not enough power in the effort. Appears gathers without drama
75 min: Ihezuo departs to warm applause from the 17,988 inside the Stade des Alpes. Nearly a full house. Fingers crossed that nothing more than cramp; she's put in quite a shift at both ends of the pitch this afternoon. She's replaced by Uchendu.
74 min: Ihezuo is down with a severe case of cramp. On comes the stretcher, it doesn't look as though she'll be able to continue. Team mates perform the internationally understood to request a sub.
72 min: Gwinn has been a livewire presence for Germany. She is very close to the Nigeria box, but she's closed down at the last. Nigeria half clear. Then Simon fizzes down the left and cuts back for Popp, whose latest attempt at the spectacular nearly hits the left-hand corner flag from the best part of 35 yards.
69 min: Germany makes their final change, switching Magull for Oberdorf. 19659063] 12.58pm EDT 12:58
66 min: A free kick hoicked long into the German box. Oparanozie goes up with Hegering, and accidentally clashes heads with the defender. Ooyah oof. On comes the ice pack. That will have hurt
61 min: Oparanozie is booked for coming straight through the back of Popp. Should Nigeria somehow turn this around, it won't be playing the quarter-final.
60 min: It’s end-to-end fun. Can't quite be here to shoot from the edge of the German box. Then Simon finds a lot of space down the left and crosses, the ball evading Nnadozie. But there is no one in a white shirt available to turn the ball home
58 min: Germany can't find much in the way of fluency, though this is better, than Buhl chases Popp's pass down the right and backs for Gwinn, barring into space down the inside-left channel. Gwinn lifts her shot over the bar, in an attempt to float a chip over Nnadozie. A lovely move, shame about the finish.
56 min: Dabritz has a bash from distance. It's deflected out for a corner, which results in Gwinn sending a dribbler towards goal from 25 yards. It's easily gathered by Nnadozie.
52 min: Germany look a little shocked by that burst of brilliance. A flustered Hegering slices a simple clearance behind her and out for a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece, but it is enough to get a concerned Martina Voss-Tecklenburg out of the dugout and into her technical area.
50 min: What a run by Ajibade! From the halfway line, she bursts down the left with great purpose and skill, gliding past Gwinn, who is left in the dust. Ajibade enters the box and fires a low ball across the face of goal. If Oparanozie connects with a telescopic leg at the far post, it's a goal, but the ball evades here at millimeters. What an entrance to the World Cup that was at Ajibade!
48 min: Germany come back at Nigeria, Buhl very nearly bustling her way into the box after getting on the end of a long clearance at Schult. She is cornered. Hedge stops Nnadozie claiming on her line, and the whistle blows for a foul.
46 min: An early corner for Nigeria out on the right. It's sent sailing straight through the box and away from danger. But that's a statement of intent from the underdogs, which needs to happen quickly.
And we are off again! Germany get the ball rolling for the second half, having made two changes. Schweers and Leupolz have been replaced by Simon and Buhl. Meanwhile, Nigeria have swapped Nwabuoku for Ajibade, who makes her World Cup debut.
And that's the first half . Germany has reached the quarter-final stage of every World Cup to date, and they're 45 minutes plus, however, many additional hours will be added for VAR checks from making it again.
45 mins +4: Or do they? Kanu is afforded more space down the right. She heads the ball towards Gwinn, who is facing the other way. The ball hits her upper arm. Nigeria for a penalty and the referee checks, but it's not happening. The correct decision – Gwinn was not aware, she was right next to Kanu, and her arm was a totally natural position – but the crowd boo nevertheless. The neutrals have taken sides
45 min +3: The ball's swung in from the right. Popp rises highest to flick and fine defensive header away from danger. And she's fouled in doing so. Germany weather the late storm
45 min +2: A free kick for Nigeria on the halfway line. Ohal launches it long. Germany only half clear, and Ordega is able to cue up a cross from the right. She sends it in low, and Oparanozie tries to flick it home from the edge of the six-yard box. Doorsoun is forced to clip the ball out for a corner
45 min: Dabritz sends it into the mixer. Oparanozie is forced to head behind. Dabritz takes again, Nnadozie dealing with the second one very well. There will be four extra minutes to play before the break, making up for all that VAR
44 min: A quick throw releases Schuller into plenty of space down the right. She is cornered. Nigeria can not afford to concede another before half-time
42 min: Gwinn crosses hard from the right. Huth, yards out and level with the right-hand post, trying to guide the ball into the net with a spectacular scorpion kick. Had it gone, it would have been a goal of the tournament. When it was, the ball sailed harmlessly wide. But full marks for ambition
38 min: Okobi whips the ball towards the near post. It's whistling towards the top left, but Schuller is on the line to head clear. Another header, this time from Schweers, completely quashes the danger.
37 mins: Leupolz bundles into the Ihezuo as the Nigerian forward works her way down the left. This is a free kick just to the side of the German box. Trouble ahoy for the two-time champs
36 min: It's getting a bit tasty out there, as Popp becomes the latest player to go in the book for a cynical clip on Ordega, who was in the process of turning and making off into space.
32 min: Dabritz rolls a gorgeous pass down the inside-right channel , Gwinn on the overlap. Ihezuo does extremely well to keep up and shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick. Gwinn, slightly exasperated, takes a wild swipe at the ball just before it runs out, and connects with Ihezuo instead. She's booked.
