Germany v Nigeria

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Germany v Nigeria

Germany First Team To Reach Quarter-Finals

by Jeremy Ruane

Germany became the first nation to reach the quarter-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals on June 22, overcoming Nigeria 3-0 in front of 17,988 fans at the picturesque Stade des Alpes in Grenoble.

It was a tough gig for the Nigerians, given they only found out they had reached the last sixteen some forty hours before this match commenced, and had to travel across country from Rennes, which took up half the day before this match.

So it was something of a surprise to see the "Super Falcons" hit the ground running in this match, Francisca Ordega's second minute shot on the turn giving Almuth Schult food for thought.

But Germany were quickly into their stride, and after the outstanding Osinachi Ohale had blocked Lina Magull's close-range shot, following a well-worked free-kick routine, the Olympic champions opened the scoring in the twentieth minute.

Magull's corner was headed home from five yards by Alexandra Popp, on the occasion of her 100th international for her country, but the goal was only awarded after the Video Assistant Referee had determined the role of Svenja Huth in the goal - she was standing in front of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie in an offside position, but deemed not to be interfering with play.

The VAR was called upon again three minutes later, after a wild attempted clearance by Evelyn Nwabuoko saw her miss the ball but collect Magull flush in the knee, a blow for which the midfielder required treatment.

A penalty was awarded, and Sara Daebritz duly drilled the ball beyond the diving figure of Nnadozie into the bottom corner of the net - 2-0 Germany, leaving Nigeria with a mountain to climb.

It took the "Super Falcons" a while to gather some momentum, but after Ngozi Okobi had seen her free-kick hooked clear from under the shadows of the crossbar by Lea Schueller, they piled on the pressure in the shadows of the half-time whistle, having penalty claims for a handball by Giulia Gwinn turned down after Sara Doorsoun blocked Desire Opanozie in the act of shooting following Ordega's right wing raid.

In between these opportunities, Svenja Huth's

audacious back-heeled attempt from a Gwinn cross deserved better fate, while an inswinging corner from Daebritz was punched out from beneath her crossbar by Nnadozie, who was relieved to see Halimatu Ayinde cut out a pass from half-time substitute Klara Buehl which would have put Huth in on goal with just the 'keeper to beat in the 47th minute.

Nigeria responded with a glorious opportunity to halve the deficit. Half-time substitute Rasheedat Ajibade's swashbuckling run down the left left Germans trailing in her wake, and her slide-rule angled low cross to the far post saw Opanozie sliding in, but she just failed to make contact with the ball - it was all on if she'd scored.

Instead, the Germans shut the game down, Gwinn blazing a chance over the bar just shy of the hour mark after a slick interchange between Buehl and Huth, while nineteen minutes from time, Onome Ebi's vital clearance thwarted Gwinn in the act of shooting, after Schueller and Daebritz had combined to create the opening.

Eight minutes later, substitute Lena Oberdorf won possession and threaded a pass through to Daebritz, who dragged her shot past the post with Gwinn in space beyond her, and better-placed to finish.

Seven minutes from time, Germany confirmed their progress into the last eight with a clinical first-time finish from Schueller, who swooped on a misplaced back-pass from Ayinde to conclude the match as a contest.

Nigeria sought a late consolation goal, initially via an Opanozie free-kick which grazed the roof of the net, then by efforts from Alice Ogebe and Ajibade's low cross into the goalmouth, which Germany cleared to confirm their 3-0 win and continue their progress at France 2019, with Sweden or Canada their next opponents in a week's time.

Germany: Schult; Gwinn, Doorsoun, Hegering, Schweers (Simon, 46); Huth (booked, 56), Leupolz (Buehl, 46), Magull (Oberdorf, 69), Daebritz; Popp (booked, 32), Schueller

Nigeria: Nnadozie; Okeke, Ebi, Nwabuoko (booked, 26) (Ajibade, 46 (booked, 82)), Ohale; Ordega, Ayinde, Okobi, Kanu (Ogebe, 84); Opanozie (booked, 61), Ihezuo (Uchendu, 75)

Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)

Knockout Matches