Women’s World Cup roundup: Nigeria defeats South Korea; Germany beats Spain; France remains undefeated
Asisat Oshoala became the second Nigerian player to score in two different Women’s World Cup tournaments with a late goal in a 2-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday.
Chidinma Okeke chipped the ball past the South Korean defense in the 75th minute and Oshoala chased it down, slipped past Hwang Bo-ram and drew goalkeeper Kim Min-jung off her line before sliding it into an open goal from a tight angle.
Nigeria took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute at Stade des Alpes when South Korea’s Kim Do-yeon volleyed the ball into her own net.
The two own-goals so far in this tournament have both featured Nigeria, which is the first team to both score and concede an own-goal at the same Women’s World Cup since the United States in 1999. Osinachi Ohale scored on her own team in Nigeria’s opening Group A loss to Norway.
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Oshoala, who plays professionally for Barcelona, joined Rita Nwadike as Nigerians to score in multiple Women’s World Cup tournaments.
Germany 1, Spain 0
VALENCIENNES, France — Germany is finding it far from easy going at the World Cup.
Against a skillful Spain, the two-time world champions relied on Sara Dabritz’s goal in the 42nd minute for the win Wednesday.
It was second-ranked Germany’s second successive 1-0 victory in Group B. Germany earned three points for an opening round 1-0 win over China.
The Germans, who have always reached at least the quarterfinals at Women’s World Cups, had to overcome slack defense before taking the lead.
Spain’s lack of production spared Germany an upset to the 13th-ranked team that is playing in only its second World Cup.
When a high ball was sent to Nahikari Garcia in the 14th minute, the forward broke through the center backs. But with only goalkeeper Almuth Schult to beat, Garcia chipped wide.
Germany took the lead against the run of play. Sandra Panos had just saved Alexandra Popp’s header but she couldn’t keep hold of it and Dabritz pounced to bundle the loose ball into the net.
France 2, Norway 1
NICE, France (AP) — Eugenie Le Sommer scored the winning goal from the penalty spot to lift host nation France to a 2-1 win over Norway at the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday.
Then she had a special embrace for one of her teammates.
France defender Wendie Renard almost cost France the game when she turned the ball into her own net to even the match at 1-1.
Le Sommer came to the rescue and moved France to 2-0 in this tournament when she scored the winner in the 72nd minute. A relieved Renard was one of the first players to celebrate with Le Sommer.
Neither goalkeeper was really tested in an entertaining first half, but France took the lead immediately after the break when Valerie Gauvin tapped in Amel Majri’s cross. Gauvin had been benched at the start of France’s opening 4-0 win over South Korea, reportedly because she was late to training.
Norway tied it eight minutes later when Renard knocked Isabell Herlovsen’s low cross into her own net.
Renard, considered one of the best defenders in the world, appeared to be in tears as she raised her face to the sky in anguish.
Video review was used on Le Sommer’s game-winning goal, which stood because a penalty was awarded after a high tackle by Ingrid Syrstad Engen on Marion Torrent.
France is three points ahead of Norway in Group A. Nigeria was also three points behind France, which is vying to become the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.
Norway, which won the competition in 1995, is playing without Ada Hegerberg. The 2018 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner stepped down from the national team because of what she says are differences in the way the federation treats the men’s and women’s teams.
