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Selección Olímpica femenina | Women’s National Team

MATCH REPORT | Another win and a place in the Paris 2024 quarter-finals

An Alexia Putellas free-kick gives Montse Tomé's side their second win and guarantees them a place in the last eight.
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Mon, 29/07/2024 - 08:43

Spain huffed and puffed until they blew the Nigeria resistance away in the form of a late winning goal. With ambition in their play and quality in their football coupled with cool minds and clear ideas, Spain have already booked their ticket to the quarter-finals of Paris 2024 thanks to their second win in as many games. This time the victory came against a tough Nigerian team, who had a tight defensive structure and played with purpose, but the door was eventually opened by the double Ballon d'Or winner with a goal that was more like a work of art.

There is no easy opponent or match in an Olympic Games. Every match is a challenge and a battle. As such, this was precisely what Spain came up against in their clash against Nigeria, and they continued making history at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, a city and a place that we leave today after achieving two victories, having scored three goals and conceding only one. The women's national team will now go on to play in the quarter-finals in their first Olympic appearance.

The rhythm of the match was as expected, with Spain dominating, controlling the ball and the tempo of the match, but taking good care at the back given the speed and directness of the African team, who managed to muster a couple of dangerous looking counter-attacks that were well marshalled by the Spanish defence and Cata Coll between the sticks. The Spain goalkeeper had to be especially on her toes in the last minute, when Nigeria created one final chance.

Spain constantly switched play and probed looking for space between the lines, although they had to wait until the second half until the gaps started to appear. Salma Paralluelo had a goal disallowed for offside, Alexia came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, and Paralluelo herself had a great chance when she headed over from close range off an Olga Carmona cross. As the match was entering the final minutes a Spain goal was starting to look elusive until Putellas pulled out her magic wand.

With a masterful free-kick in the final minutes, the Barça midfielder gave Spain the result their play deserved, giving Montse Tomé's side the win and qualification for the quarter-finals too.

Now it's time to head to Bordeaux where the legendary Brazilian team await, against whom they will be looking to seal top spot in the group. Another giant leap forward.

Juegos Olímpicos París 2024

DATA SHEET

SPAIN

Starting lineup: Cata Coll (P); Oihane Hernández, Irene Paredes (C), Laia Aleixandri, Ona Batlle; Teresa Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas; Lucía García, Mariona Caldentey and Salma Paralluelo.

Substitutions: Misa Rodríguez (P), Laia Codina, Olga Carmona, Patri Guijarro, Jenni Hermoso, Athenea del Castillo and Eva Navarro.

Coach: Montse Tomé.

NIGERIA

Starting lineup: Chiamaka Nnadozie (P); Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Chidinma Okeke; Christy Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun, Toni Payne; Rasheedat Ajibade (C), Asisat Oshoala and Esther Okoronkwo.

Substitutes: Tochukwu Oluehi (P), Nicole Payne, Jennifer Echegini, Chinonyerem Macleans, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Ifeoma Onumonu and Uchenna Kanu.

Seleccionador: Randy Waldrum.

1-0 | Alexia Putellas | 85'

Referee: Tori Penso (USA)

Assistant referees: Brooke Mayo (USA) and Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)

Fourth official: Odette Hamilton (JAM)

VAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA)

Assistent VAR: Lahlou Benbraham (ALG)

Second matchday of the Women's Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (France)

Yellow cards: Asisat Oshoala (37') for Nigeria.