TheCable

Australia secured their first win at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeating the Super Falcons of Nigeria 2-0 in Winnipeg.

The first win for the Aussies is one of the things we learned in that match.

TheCable examines the others.

AUSTRALIA, A BETTER STUDENT

As expected, the Super Falcons were dangerous going forward, but they never really tested Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams.

This could have come from lessons learnt from the first group games.

Allen Stajcic, Australia’s coach, must have studied the Nigeria v Sweden match and also his team’s 3-1 loss to USA.

Against the Americans, Australia played the game like a house on fire with breathless pace, pressing high defensively and creating a lot of chances for most of the first half and the opening stages of the second.

They faded out after that relentless start and the Americans took over.

Against Nigeria, the Matildas were much more relaxed and slow in their approach.

But that didn’t take the bite off their game as they were still very dominant and created chances going forward. However, they were a lot less dogged in their defending against Nigeria.

What did Edwin Okon learn from the 3-3 draw with Sweden?

NIGERIA, “UNBALANCED DIET”

Nigeria’s defence, midfield, and attack against Australia is like a menu list of rice, fufu, and garri in the morning, afternoon, and evening respectively.

The Falcons was always going to be a threat going forward. The pace and youthfulness of Asisat Oshoala, the fearlessness of Desire Oparanozie and the flair of Ngozi Okobi make the team unpredictable and a handful to any opponent.

But there seemed to be very little shape to the team in the three departments working in tandem.

With the Super Falcons offering a disjointed performance the Matildas secured the win that lift them to second in Group D. And it is difficult to see how their unpredictability will play out against the USA in their final group game.

COMEBACK DOESN’T STRIKE TWICE

Comeback, like lightning, does not strike twice at the same spot. And against Australia on Friday, the Super Falcons had no comeback in them.

Nigeria came into this match on a high after claiming a draw that felt like a victory against Sweden on Monday in their first group game, twice coming from behind to draw 3-3.

Despite the Falcons’ defence and midfield looking shaky on that day, the attack managed to keep them in the game.

Against the Aussies, the attack joined the other departments on “sabbatical” leave. Resumption day? Well, maybe against USA on Tuesday in Vancouver.

FALCONS COULDN’T CAPITALISE ON AUSSIES SECOND HALF SLUMP

Guess the Nigerians were on a slump too after they couldn’t punish their opponent who were guilty of running out of gas. They didn’t get away with it in their 3-1 loss to USA and a drop in quality was again evident against Nigeria but this time the result was in their favour.

The high tempo of the game, the 28-degree heat, and the artificial turf took its toll on the Matildas and they struggled to get control of the game despite their lead.

Even with the extra energy Tameka Butt provided when she came on in midfield with 30 minutes to go the Aussies still struggled.

But unlike what happened against USA, Nigeria didn’t have an extra gear to call on when chasing the game and looked out of depth as the match entered its closing minutes.

Despite their noticeable fatigue, Australia kept the Falcons to creating only half chances.

NO OSHOALA, NO SHOW FOR FALCONS

In our preview of this match, we highlighted the importance of the Liverpool Ladies forward to the Super Falcons. Samson shorn of his hair was the picture we painted to depict her relevance to the team.

A summary of her contribution, before she was substituted in the 84th minute, says it all:

84’: sees an effort go off target

73’: sees an effort go off target

59’: sees an effort go off target

33’: Kennedy concedes a free-kick following a challenge on Oshoala

18’: is penalised after committing a foul

Off target, off target, off target, fouled, foul meant no show for Oshoala.

Off target, off target, off target, fouled, foul meant no show for Falcons.

REFEREE FRAPPART PLAYED HER PART

French referee Stephanie Frappart rightly booked Evelyn Nwabuoku for her mistimed kick on the head of Sam Kerr. but looked the other way after the same player suffered a vicious elbowing from substitute Ugo Njoku in an off-the-ball incident.

But she looked the other way after the same player suffered a vicious elbowing from substitute Ugo Njoku in an off-the-ball incident.

She missed that, but she also did not see her assistant on the touchline later.

With only a minute into the four indicated by the fourth official, Frappart blew the final whistle which left Edwin Okon, the Nigerian coach fuming. And one wonders why.

But it caught Australia by surprise too as they were about to make a substitution!

OKON IS NOT OK

But then, that’s a story for another day.