Nigeria v Korea Republic

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Nigeria Leave Koreans On Brink

by Jeremy Ruane

Nigeria scored a 2-0 win over Korea Republic in front of 11,252 fans in their FIFA Women's World Cup encounter at Grenoble's Stade des Alpes on June 12, a result which leaves the Asian team on the brink of elimination from the latest quadrennial global showcase of women's football.

The Koreans began brightly, Jang Sel Gi lashing a long-range sixth minute strike wide of the mark after fellow fullback Kim Hye Ri had made strong in-roads down the right to the byline.

Nigeria responded via a left wing raid, Ngozi Ebere leading the charge before whipping in a cross which Desire Oparanozie headed straight at Kim Min Jung, who parried then gathered the ball. Had it been headed either side of her, Oparanozie would surely have opened the scoring.

Back came Korea, Cho So Hyun and Jung Seol Bin linking with Lee Geum Min, who unleashed a curling effort from the inside left channel. Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was a surprise selection twixt the sticks for this match, saved solidly with two Korean strikers closing fast.

That 18th minute raid was followed by another four minutes later. Rita Chukwelu's error was pounced on by Kang Chae Rim, who linked with Jung to present Lee Mi Na with a shooting chance, a twenty-five yarder which sizzled inches past Nnadozie's right-hand post.

An unlikely source provided the Nigerians with the lead in the 29th minute. Chikwelu bombed the ball forward from half-way, looking to pick out the run of Oparanozie.

Kim Do Yeon stretched out a leg to clear the sphere, but succeeded only in diverting it past approaching goalkeeper Kim Min Jung and into the empty net to the delight of Oparanozie, who had gone close to handling the ball as it went past her - a lengthy Video Assistant Referee check was required to confirm she hadn't before the goal was confirmed.

Suddenly the African champions were a different proposition - it was as if they needed the one-goal lead to bring out the attacking flair within them. The Koreans were fully stretched to contain their rivals in the minutes after the own goal, yet it was the Asian team which went closest to scoring before half-time, on two occasions.

Nnadozie saved at the feet of the onrushing Jung nine minutes before half-time, while three minutes later, the Nigerians had a real let-off following Kang's cross to the far post.

Lee Mi Na headed the ball inside to Lee Geum Min, who was inside the six-yard box with Nnadozie to beat, but opted to square it to the better-placed Jung, only to play the ball behind her fellow front-runner - a terrific chance spurned.

Asisat Oshoala just failed to get on the end of Chikwelu's angled ball into the penalty area on the stroke of half-time, while fie minutes after the break, Oparanozie's header, from a pinpoint Ebere free-kick, grazed the roof of the Korean net as Nigeria looked to double their advantage.

Instead, they came desperately close to losing it. Korean captain Cho led by example throughout proceedings, courageously continuing despite taking a couple of solid blows to the face later in the half.

But in the 51st minute she let rip with a twenty-five yarder which stung the gloves of Nnadozie, who was grateful to see the offside flag raised seven minutes later, as her parried save presented Lee Geum Min with a tap-in which the raised flag ruled out.

Nigerian central defenders Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale stood firm to thwart the efforts of Yeo Min Ji and Lee Geum Min soon after the hour mark, but with fifteen minutes left, the game was up for the Koreans.

Pressing for an equaliser, Korea fell victim to a classic counter-attack, with Chidinma Okeke intercepting a pass and surging out of defence before sending Oshoala storming through the inside right channel.

The striker had it all to do, but she did it brilliantly, holding off the challenge of Hwang Bo Ram before rounding Kim Min Jung and squeezing the ball home from the most acute of angles - a real striker's goal, with fifteen minutes to play.

She nearly bagged Nigeria's third goal three minutes later, Oshoala's touch letting her down at the vital moment, much to the relief of Kim, who then combined with Hwang to foil another Nigerian raid, turning Francisca Ordega's cross to safety with Oshoala hovering in anticipation of another chance to celebrate wildly.

The Koreans threw everything they had into pulling at least one goal back, but time was now their enemy, and it was one they failed to conquer. Nnadozie turned Moon Mi Ra's header round the post in the 84th minute, then saved well low to her left to deny Yeo's shot on the turn, before denying the same player's drive as the game entered stoppage time.

The crestfallen looks on the Korean team's faces once the final whistle blew spoke volumes, as, having conceded six goals already, their chances of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams are already slim, never mind the fact they must beat Norway in their final group game to have a chance of realising that prospect.

Nigeria, on the other hand, are a genuine hope of making the last sixteen, although they'll have to negotiate the host nation in their final game - a blow-out in that match isn't beyond the realms of possibility, given France's form so far.

Nigeria: Nnadozie; Okeke, Ohale, Ebi, Ebere; Uchendu (Ayinde, 65), Okobi, Chikwelu (booked, 61); Oshoala (Kanu, 83), Oparanozie, Ordega (Imo, 80)

Korea Rep.: M. Kim; H. Kim, Hwang (booked, 71), D. Kim, Jang; M. Lee (Moon, 56), Cho, Ji (booked, 49); Kang (S. Lee, 76), Jung (Yeo, 56), G. Lee

Referee: Anastasia Pustovoytova (Russia)

Group Matches