By Spain secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s soccer tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nigeria. The match was decided by a moment of brilliance from Alexia Putellas, whose looping free-kick in the 85th minute sailed over Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and into the net.
The World Cup champions struggled to break down a resilient Nigerian defense for much of the match. Spain’s Salma Paralluelo thought she had broken the deadlock early in the second half, but her goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review. Paralluelo continued to threaten, narrowly missing with a header shortly after.
Nigeria, despite being on the back foot for much of the game, showed dangerous potential on the counter-attack. Esther Okoronkwo forced Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll into a fine save early in the match, exposing some vulnerabilities in Spain’s high defensive line.
The match seemed destined for a goalless draw until Nigeria conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position with just five minutes remaining. Putellas, the Barcelona star, stepped up and delivered a masterful strike that left Nnadozie stranded, securing the win for Spain and their passage to the knockout stages.
This victory puts Spain at the top of Group C with six points from two games. They face Brazil in their final group match, a contest that will determine the group winners. Nigeria, meanwhile, find themselves in a precarious position with zero points and must defeat Japan in their last game to have any chance of progressing.
The match highlighted Spain’s attacking prowess but also revealed potential weaknesses in their defense that more clinical opponents might exploit. Nigeria’s performance, while ultimately unrewarded, demonstrated their ability to compete with the world’s top-ranked team.
Alexia Putellas was rightfully named player of the match for her game-winning contribution. Her ability to deliver in crucial moments underlines her importance to this Spanish side as they aim for their first Olympic gold in women’s soccer.
As the tournament progresses, Spain will look to build on this performance and address their defensive vulnerabilities. For Nigeria, the focus now shifts to their must-win encounter with Japan, where they’ll hope to keep their Olympic dreams alive.
The final round of Group C matches, with Spain facing Brazil and Nigeria taking on Japan, promises to be full of drama as teams fight for qualification and favorable positioning in the knockout stages.
