The Women's World Cup started in Canada on Saturday and yesterday the so called "group of death" of the tournament took to the field. The day in Winnipeg started off with a thrilling game between 5th ranked in the world Sweden and 33rd ranked Nigeria. Although Nigeria is ranked so low they are an exciting team to watch with a plethora of pace, strength and skill. The game was stretched from the very beginning with countless attacks from both teams. The first goal came off a Swedish corner when Nigeria's striker Oparanozie turned it into her own net. After this goal all the momentum seemed to be with Sweden. Eleven minutes after scoring their first goal Sweden tacked on another. After the 5th ranked team in the world got out to a 2-0 lead not many people thought Nigeria could come back, but the Nigerians came out firing in the second half. Two goals in three minutes, one from Okobi in the 50th and one from Oshoala in the 53rd, tied up the match. What a player Oshoala is for Nigeria. Last year she was player of the tournament in the under 20 world cup, yesterday her pace and strength caused Sweden fits. Her calm, composed finish was better than I have seen some Premier League players do in front of goal. If the Nigerian women's team is on FIFA 16 she at least has to be an 85! The game went back and forth once again as both teams tried to earn three points. Unfortunately for me, as I was pulling for the underdogs, Sweden scored another in the 60th to make it 3-2. It had to be over for Nigeria now. They continued to press though and had a few good chances, but they just couldn't tie it up... until the 87th minute when Francisca Ordega slotted it home for Nigeria! This tied the game 3-3 and that's the way it ended. If Nigeria really would've tried at the end they might have been able to get three points because Sweden was under siege, but after being down 2-0 and 3-2 the Nigerians were probably very happy with the draw. It will be interesting to see what Nigeria can do in their other games in the group of death. Finishing third place can possibly send you through to the knockout stage; hopefully they make it through because they are a very entertaining team to watch.
The second game of the day in group d(eath) was the United States vs Australia. This featured #2 (USA) vs #10(Australia) in the world. The US team is on a so called business trip (every member of the team filled out Business as their reason for travel on their customs form) in Canada as they feel they should've won the World Cup in 2011. There were giant expectations before the start of this match and the US really needed to play well to start their World Cup off on the right track. Alex Morgan hadn't played a game in a few months (due to injury) and was doubtful to start before the game, she didn't. As the tournament goes along she needs to get match fit as the USA will need her deeper into the Cup. With Morgan out, Wambach and Leroux made the start up top for the US. Wambach is a great veteran of the team and everyone knows what she will bring to the table. Leroux on the other hand still has some to prove in these big games, she got an assist in the match and her pace was hard for Australia to handle, so by the end of the match she proved to me that she is a quality player, even though I would like to see Morgan get back in the lineup.
Megan Rapinoe started the scoring off in the 12th minute for the United States when she took a shot that took a wicked deflection off an Australian defender; the shot hit the back of the Roo's net. After this goal the US did not take a dominant stance in the game, we let Australia keep attacking. Australia is ranked 10th in the world for a reason: they're good. So a goal from Lisa de Vanna in the 27th minute did not surprise me as our defense had been shaky throughout the first half. Hope Solo had kept is in the game but she had no chance of stopping de Vanna's perfect left-footed strike. The teams went into the half all tied up.
The US went up 2-1 in the second half from a goal by Christen Press. Press is classified as a striker but started the game in midfield. The move for her goal started with a nice ball over the top from Rapinoe to Sydney Leroux who took it down the wing with Walcott like pace. She slid the ball into the box to where Press had made the brilliant decision of stopping her run. Press then illustrated her striking skills by finishing the ball into the bottom right corner. Rapinoe added another to the US' tally when she hit a perfect shot with her left foot into the bottom corner when an Aussie defender just wouldn't put pressure on her in the 78th minute. Rapinoe had a great game scoring two goals and starting the move for the other. She is probably the best server of the ball on the squad, always teeing up the ball for Wambach's head. Speaking of Wambach, she didn't score a goal in the match and she had some opportunities. She's probably crazy mad at herself but she'll rebound in the upcoming games. Hope Solo was on top form making many important saves and Tobin Heath came into the game in the 68th minute: She's always an entertaining player to watch with loads of quality. After the US got a 3-1 lead Morgan got subbed into the game. It was good for her to get some minutes in early in the World Cup.
Right now France is taking on England in a fierce European rivalry, tune into Fox to see what should be a great match.
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