CNN
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England had its star player Lauren James sent off in regulation time but advanced to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals after beating Nigeria in a penalty shootout in Brisbane on Monday.
James was shown a red card in the 87th minute after a moment of madness late in the game – she stepped on Michelle Alozie’s back – but 10-player England held on in extra-time to take the match to a shootout.
Despite Georgia Stanway missing the first penalty, England’s remaining spot-kicks were close to perfect with Chloe Kelly, the woman for the Lionesses’ big moments, hitting her effort into the roof of the net to secure a 4-2 win on penalties.
“We’ve been practicing [penalties] a lot actually, and yeah, it’s working,” Kelly, who scored England’s winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, told the BBC after the match. “For me, it’s I’m going to score and that’s how I look at it and once I win that mental battle, we’re good.”
The two teams drew 0-0, but it was Jamaica that advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament. This was the last World Cup for Marta, the tournament’s record scorer and veteran of six tournaments.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1334″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
3-2 win over Italy on August 2. It was South Africa’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup, and it helped them clinch a spot in the next round. Italy was eliminated with the loss.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1333″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Sweden won 2-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1333″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
England won 6-1 to advance to the tournament’s round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
The win, coupled with China’s defeat against England, meant Denmark would advance to the knockout stage and face co-host Australia.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
goalless draw against Portugal on August 1. The result meant that the Americans, the two-time defending champions, would advance to the round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Australia won 4-0 to book a spot in the round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1731″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
4-0 victory over Spain on July 31. Both teams are advancing to the round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
clean stands after matches.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1667″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
2-1 victory.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup, is shown a yellow card by referee Edina Alves Batista. ” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1110″ width=”1600″ loading=’lazy’/>
Jamaica won 1-0. It was Jamaica’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1928″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
2-1 win against Brazil on July 29.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
China won 1-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
England won 1-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2035″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
received criticism for her Cristiano Ronaldo tattoo, the rival of Argentina star Lionel Messi.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1334″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Nigeria defeated Australia 3-2 on Thursday, July 27. The stunning result means Nigeria has a one-point lead going into its final group game against already eliminated Ireland, while co-host Australia faces a must-win match against Canada.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Canada won 2-1.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
lifted her country to a 1-0 victory — its first win ever at a Women’s World Cup.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2028″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Brazil won 4-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Germany dominated Morocco 6-0 in what was the biggest scoreline of the tournament so far.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
youngest player to represent Italy in the competition’s history. ” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
single-game attendance record for a women’s soccer match in Australia, with 75,784 fans watching.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1909″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
The roughly 10-minute opening ceremony celebrated both New Zealand and Australia’s indigenous heritage and culture, with Māori and First Nations dancers and singers taking to the center of the field.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1548″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
The best photos of the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Nigeria was the better team and had chances to secure what would have been a surprise win over the European champion, but in extra-time especially the Lionesses battled.
“Anything that is thrown at us, we show what we’re capable of,” Kelly continued.
“We dig deep as a group and we believe in our ability, and first and foremost, we believe in what we’re getting told to do.”
England were already on the back foot before James’ red card and Nigeria will see this as a huge missed opportunity to win a historic World Cup knockout game.
The Super Falcons came the closest to scoring – twice hitting the crossbar before the game went to extra-time.
English-born Ashleigh Plumptre has starred for Nigeria throughout the tournament and rattled the bar with a thunderous strike in the first-half.
“Everybody is very disappointed because we put on a really good performance and we pushed England to the limit. We had really good chances,” Plumptre told CNN. “When all the emotions have settled down, we’ll be proud of ourselves.
“We’ve set the bar for ourselves and this should be the minimum for us now.”
England will now meet either Jamaica or Colombia, who play their last-16 match on Tuesday.
