The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAUSTRALIA 1 SWEDEN 1
Lisa De Vanna put the Matildas in the lead after just 5 minutes on the clock as a clever long ball from Laura Alleway caught Sweden flat-footed, and the Australian Captain raced away to score with a cool finish at the Commonwealth Stadium.
However, Pia Sundhage’s Sweden equalised 10 minutes later after Sofia Jakobsson’s inch-perfect low strike found it’s mark, going in off the bottom of the post past Aussie goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
Sweden then came close to putting themselves ahead on several occasions but with Williams making two saves within a minute and Player of the Match, Elise Kellond-Knight with a brilliant defensive performance, the Australian’s held firm in a fairly quiet second half.
Australia are now up against Marta and the rest of the Brazilian team in the last 16, whilst Sweden will be anxiously waiting to see if they progress after finishing 3rd in Group D.
Australia:
Williams, Alleway, Catley, Kellond-Knight, Foord, Van Egmond, De Vanna © (Crummer 63), Kennedy, Simon (Heyman 72), Gorry (Butt 85), Kerr.
Sweden:
Lindahl, Fischer, Dahlkvist, Schelin ©, Jakobsson, Ilestedt, Sjogran, Nilsson (Asllani 74), Seger, Samuelsson, Rubensson (Thunebro 76).
NIGERIA 0 USA 1
In a well-balanced first half the United States thought they had taken the lead early in the game through 23 year old defender Julie Johnston but her effort was ruled out for offside.
Nigeria’s Asisat Ohsoala also had a great chance to open the scoring but a perfectly timed Johnston tackle stopped the Liverpool forward pulling the trigger.
With half time fast approaching and with both teams level, it looked as if both teams would go in with the scoresheet blank but for USA’s Abby Wambach, who volleyed home at the far post following Megan Rapinoe’s corner in the last minute of the first half.
Sarah Nnodim’s 69th minute dismissal made Nigeria’s task even harder after the defender received her second yellow card for bringing Sydney Leroux down outside the area.
Jill Ellis’ USA have finished as Group D winners and now face the 3rd best team from Group B, E, or F whilst Edwin Okon’s Nigeria are saying their goodbyes to Canada 2015.
Nigeria:
Dede, Ebi, Chukwunonye, Sunday (Oparanozie 50), Oshoala, Dike (Ayinde 50), Okobi, Nwabuoku ©, Ordega (Nku 77), Nnodim, Ebere.
USA:
Solo, Sauerbrunn, Lloyd, Krieger, Holiday, Morgan (Leroux 66), Rapinoe (Boxx 74), Heath (Rampone 80), Johnston, Wambach ©, Klingenberg.
