A Swede start for Nigeria

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This article was published 09/06/2015 (4084 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Surprise and shock marked the first match of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field.

In Monday’s afternoon contest, Franscisa Ordega’s speedy run in the 87th minute lifted Nigeria into a 3-3 draw with Sweden in the Group D opener and it was clear elation for the Nigerians.

Ordega booted home the run with her left foot, taking a marvellous pass from teammate Ngozi Okobi up the middle.

“For us, we don’t think about the ratings,” beamed Nigerian coach Edwin Okon, his team the underdogs against the Swedes, who are fifth-ranked in the world. “We look at what we do in the pitch with and without the ball.”

The Nigerians put their quickness, speed and skill to work, scoring three second-half goals to erase deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.

“I’ll tell you this, the game was different from what you saw,” said Swedish coach Pia Sundhage, who was calm and collected after the disappointing result. “But I do understand some of the players — it’s their first tournament and the opening game.

“Still we were 2-0 ahead and at half-time we had a good feeling. However, we were a little bit unlucky and not so skillful and that’s why we gave up two goals and had to chase again.”

Sundhage didn’t dispute her defenders had trouble with Nigeria’s speed at times, leading to a busy afternoon for goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

“We tried to avoid 1-v-1 situations and unfortunately we had too many 1-v-1 situations, and I give credit to the Nigerian players because they are good 1-v-1 and they are tricky and created chances but being skillful 1-v-1,” Sundhage said.

The Swedes have been slow out of the gate before, Sundhage said.

“If you know your history, it’s been like this many times for the Swedish team.,” she said, vowing, “We will do better.”

Okobi was chosen the player of the match having also scored five minutes into the second half to get the Nigerians into their flow.

“I was so very excited because this was my first outing for the senior national, senior World Cup (team). I know more to come,” she said.

“(The result) wasn’t a surprise to me because all I felt was to beat Sweden. Our mistakes brought goals to them. To beat Sweden was what we had in mind.”

Okon was clearly the more enthusiastic coach post-game, but he avoided sounding cocky.

“No team in this competition is a pushover,” he said. “It’s 11-v-11. It is the girls’ to decide.”

He said he implored his players to keep fighting at the half, when Sweden led by two.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” he said. “You fight to the end. They’re a good side. I said it yesterday. It was unfortunate. I consider those cheap goals (in the first half). We’re going back to work on it.

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“In the dressing room (at the half), I said to the players, the mistakes had come and in the 45 minutes they got two goals. We can use (the next) 45 minutes to get five goals if we work at it.”

Okon was given the opportunity to say his team was better on Monday, even that others ought now to consider them a threat, but he wouldn’t go that far.

“I won’t feel disappointed because we were coming from behind against a good side,” he said.

Nigeria plays Australia on Friday, while Sweden will meet the USA.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca