Women’s World Cup: US vs Nigeria

It’s eagle versus falcon on the field in Vancouver.

June 16, 2015; 8:58 AM • by Richard Hayes

• Kickoff: June 16th, 8:00 PM EST • FOX Sports, NBC Universo
• Location: BC Place; Vancouver, Canada

HISTORY

Not a lot of history between these two teams, but what history there is is all going the wrong way for Nigeria. In three World Cup match-ups with Nigeria, the USWNT have scored a whooping 13 times to Nigeria’s one goal. As you’d expect, that translates to three wins for the US.

US

The USWNT sits atop group D with four points. There are numerous scenarios that would allow them to finish at the top of the group even with a tie or a loss but the easy way out of the group is to win and be guaranteed the top spot. At this point, most people would have bet on either Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, or Abby Wambach getting a goal, but that’s not the case, so for now in Rapinoe and Press we trust.

Nigeria

Nigeria needs a win if it wants any serious hope of advancing. That task has been made harder due the absence of Ugo Njoku, who is suspended for three games for attempting to put her elbow through the face of Australia’s Samantha Kerr. In their first game against Sweden, Nigeria looked like potential giant killers. Against Australia, they looked like a team that had run out of steam and options. Okobi is still the player to keep an eye on.

THE X FACTORS

The US blamed the turf field for their lack of goal-scoring in this LA Times article.

Abby Wambach had this to say:

“I don’t completely lay out and commit to those headers and that’s why they glance off my head rather than me contacting them,” she said Saturday. “I definitely think that the United States has more goals if we’re playing on grass.”

Which players will “commit” and rack up the points is the big question.

Also the music of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club could give that surprise boost Nigeria needs.

June 16, 2015 8:58 AM 0