(Editor’s Note: Rusty Silber is tracking the Canadian National Team during the Women’s World Cup.)
Canada may be expected to get out of Group B in the Women’s World Cup, but their opening match appeared to be more competitive than they expected.
Nigeria made it difficult in a lot of ways and settled with a scoreless draw 0-0 against Canada at Rectangler Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on Friday.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie of Nigeria saved a penalty and had a number of other saves along the way.
Nnadozie denied Christine Sinclair from the spot in the 50th minute with a low dive to her left. Sinclair missed out on becoming the first player to score in six World Cups.
The Olympic champions even had a Nigeria down to 10 players with a late red card, but still couldn’t find the back of the net.
“We’ve got to move on very quickly, and you can get lost and be really down on that,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said. “Of course, the team and I am devastated. We didn’t get three points. But at the end of the day, we got one and we took two from another team.”
Nigeria is considered lowest-ranked team in the group. By the time the match ended, keeper Nnadozie slumped to her knees, pumping her fists in celebration after the final whistle.
“I’m probably going to embarrass her, but I think she’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the world today,” Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum said. “I think Chiamaka’s save really kind of lit the fire and made us realize there’s still something to play for.”
Canada’s midfield dynamo Jessie Fleming was ruled out injured before the match and with her absence the rest of the club had problems in the midfield. Canada returns for its second match against Ireland in Perth on Wednesday.
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