At one end was Chiamaka Nnadozie, the 22-year-old goalkeeper of Nigeria. Facing her on the sun-drenched turf of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium was a woman with more international goals than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Canada captain Christine Sinclair, with 190 goals to her name, the most in the game for any man or woman, was expected to convert from the spot in this Group B encounter on Friday.
But Nnadozie leapt to her left and stopped Sinclair's shot in the 50th minute. Nigeria, known as the Super Falcons, held the Olympic champions to a 0-0 draw.
Had Sinclair found her target, she would have become the first player to score in six World Cups. But Nnadozie had other ideas.
바카라She's one of the best,바카라 Nnadozie said of the Canadian. 바카라The last time we played against them, she scored on me. I was very angry. I told myself, This is the opportunity to make things right.' So it's 1-1 for me and Sinclair.바카라
Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, watching from the other end, said Sinclair would have scored in this situation 바카라nine times out of 10바카라 but said, 바카라that's just the game.바카라
바카라You just have to be ready. It's an incredible save," said Sheridan. According to her, Nnadozie is "an incredible keeper.바카라
In the Super Falcons' last major international tournament, the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria lost to Morocco in a semifinal penalty shootout, 5-4. Nnadozie was in goal and was disappointed after the match. But she emerged from it stronger and wiser.
바카라I think she's one of the best young goalkeepers in the world right now,바카라 Nigerian coach Randy Waldrum said. 바카라Just by the performance today, people around the world are seeing that from her too, because she deserves it.바카라
In the 2019 Women's World Cup, at just 18, Nnadozie became the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the tournament바카라s history, when Nigeria beat South Korea 2-0 in the group stage.
After the crucial save off Sinclair, Nnadozie pointed to her head. She said after the match that the reason behind the gesture was to remind herself to stay focused: 바카라Come on, girl, come on. This is another game. We still got some minutes to play. Don't relax.바카라
