Super Falcons overcome early setback to fight back and draw 3-3 with Sweden

Nigeria’s Super Falcons on Monday in Winnipeg rallied from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Sweden in their opening match at the ongoing 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
A report on the match on fifa.com shows that the Nigerian side were impressive in fighting back to grab a point from the Group D match after suffering an early setback.
Sweden gave up a 2-0 lead to Nigeria only for substitute Linda Sembrant to put the Europeans back in the lead, with Francisca Ordega cancelling it out with three minutes remaining.
The Super Falcons, having never beaten Sweden on their three previous meetings, came out flying in the first few minutes.
They had the Swedes on the back foot for much of the first quarter of an hour.
But an unfortunate own goal from striker Desire Oparanozie gave the Swedes the lead 20 minutes into the match.
Emma Berglund’s flicked header from a corner kick was redirected into Nigeria’s net by Oparanozie’s chest.
A poor clearance off another Swedish corner kick made it 2-0, with Nilla Fischer able to tap in to an empty net after the ball made its way through the crowd.
Nigeria’s frontline refused to go quiet, however, and just after the break, two goals in quick succession levelled matters.
Ngozi Okobi’s brilliant first touch afforded her plenty of room and space before coolly firing past Hedvig Lindahl.
Three minutes later, Asisat Oshoala, the Golden Shoe winner at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at Canada in 2014, opened her account for this tournament.
It was a fine individual effort after a well-played long ball from Onome Ebi.
Sembrant handed the lead back to Sweden after a good build-up play on the left side resulted in Lina Nilsson’s cross.
The substitute managed to direct past Precious Dede with her thigh.
However, Ordega salvaged a point for the Super Falcons three minutes from time with a shot that managed to slip through the legs of Lindahl, leaving matters level at 3-3.
Nigeria still had something to cheer after the game, when Okobi was picked as the Player of the Match.
They will now meet Australia in their next match on Friday at 10 p.m. at the Winnipeg Stadium.