***As Abiodun bags red card
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
A 48 minute penalty save by Super Falcons’ first choice goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie ensured that Nigeria held the Olympic champions Canada to a barren draw which was enough to secure one point from the position of losing all in the first Group B match at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in the early hours of Friday.
Veteran winger, Francisca Ordega had fouled Canada’s legendary striker Christine Sinclair in the Nigerian box three minutes into the second half. Referee Lina Lehtovaara, who has served as a referee in 73 matches across various competitions in her international career had ignored the infringement.
However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Pol van Boekel called her to go view the challenge and after reviewing it, Lehtovaara awarded penalty against Nigeria.
But the resultant penalty taken by Sinclair, 14-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year Award and World’s All-time leader for international goals scored for men or women with 190 goals, saw her shot saved by Nnadozie.
The Paris FC goalkeeper, timed Sinclair’s steps and dived to her most effective left-hand side of the post to make a double save to keep Nigeria in the race for the second round ticket in this difficult group that has co-host Australia and Republic of Ireland.
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Her heroics in the match fired up her teammates to come to fight as she dived, punched and made several catches to keep the Canadians at bay even as Nigeria created a few chances which could have won the match.
Forward Ifeoma Onumonu who scored Nigeria’s two goals in the 2-2 draw with Canada in an international friendly match last year in Canada came closest to score for the nine-time African champions in the epic encounter in Melbourne.
Nevertheless, reigning African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Lamina Oshoala could have scored from an acute angle on the day after rounding Canada’s goalkeeper Ivy Sheridan but defenders made important clearance.
As the match which was watched by over 41,000 fans at the stadium drew to a close, rising star Deborah Abiodun was given a marching orders after her yellow card for stamping on Canada’s player was later upgraded to a red card after VAR review by referee Lehtovaara.
Nigeria camp will celebrate the draw like a win as the team looks forward to the remaining two group matches against Australia and Republic of Ireland next week.
The group is currently led by Australia with three points while Canada and Nigeria with a point apiece and Republic of Ireland without any point after one round of matches.
