Women's World Cup: United States beat Nigeria

Two-time winners United States are into the Women's World Cup last 16, but looked short of their best in a laboured 1-0 win over Nigeria.

Abby Wambach's volley just before the break proved enough for the US, but they could not add to their lead despite Nigeria losing defender Sarah Nnodim to a second yellow card.

They will play one of four third-placed teams to progress from the pool stages.

Australia secured Group D's second spot with a 1-1 draw against Sweden.

The Matildas will play Brazil in the next round in Moncton.

Meanwhile Sweden, ranked fifth in the world, will have to wait to see whether they claim one of four qualifying spots for teams finishing third in their group.

Australia took the lead after just five minutes as captain Lisa De Vanna sprinted onto a long ball forward and coolly slotted home.

Australia are into the knock-out stages for the third successive time

But any hopes they had of overhauling the United States at the top of the group were reduced as Sofia Jakobsson levelled 10 minutes late with a low shot inside goalkeeper Lydia Williams' near post.

In Vancouver, the 14th World Cup goal of Wambach's career - an instinctive far post volley from Megan Rapinoe's corner - proved enough for the United States.

But Nigeria coach Edwin Okon was left aggrieved by the referee's decision to issue Nnodim with a second yellow for a challenge on Sydney Leroux that left his side down to 10 players for the final 20 minutes.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats

Line-ups

Nigeria

Formation 4-4-2

1Dede

22Nnodim6Chukwunonye5Ebi23Ebere

17Ordega14Nwabuoku13Okobi7Sunday

10Dike8Oshoala

• 1Dede
• 22NnodimBooked at 69mins
• 6ChukwunonyeBooked at 59mins
• 5EbiBooked at 43mins
• 23Ebere
• 17OrdegaSubstituted forNkuat 77'minutes
• 14Nwabuoku
• 13OkobiBooked at 68mins
• 7SundaySubstituted forAyindeat 50'minutes
• 10DikeSubstituted forOparanozieat 50'minutes
• 8Oshoala

Substitutes

• 2Edoho
• 3Ohale
• 4Nkwocha
• 9Oparanozie
• 11Umotong
• 12Ayinde
• 16Whyte
• 18Ayila
• 19Ohadugha
• 20Nku
• 21Ohiaeriaku

USA

Formation 4-4-2

1Solo

11Krieger19Ertz4Sauerbrunn22Klingenberg

15Rapinoe12Holiday10Lloyd17Heath

20Wambach13Morgan

• 1Solo
• 11Krieger
• 19Ertz
• 4Sauerbrunn
• 22Klingenberg
• 15RapinoeSubstituted forBoxxat 74'minutes
• 12Holiday
• 10Lloyd
• 17HeathSubstituted forPearceat 80'minutes
• 20Wambach
• 13MorganSubstituted forLerouxat 66'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Leroux
• 3Pearce
• 5O'Hara
• 6Engen
• 7Boxx
• 8Rodriguez
• 9O'Reilly
• 14Brian
• 16Chalupny
• 18Harris
• 21Naeher
• 23Press

Referee:

Kateryna Monzul

Attendance:

52,193

Match Stats

Home TeamNigeriaAway TeamUSA

Possession

Home42%

Away58%

Shots

Home7

Away15

Shots on Target

Home2

Away9

Corners

Home5

Away6

Fouls

Home12

Away8