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    The Republic of Ireland ended their first World Cup with a 0-0 draw with Nigeria, who progressed to the last-16 and could face England.

    The result, coupled with Australia's win over Canada, meant the Super Falcons, the lowest-ranked side in Group B, qualified in second place at the expense of the Olympic champions.

    The Irish were already knocked out after defeats by Australia and Canada but collected their first point at a World Cup in their final match of the tournament.

    In a low-key encounter in Brisbane, the Nigerians came closest to making the breakthrough when Courtney Brosnan pushed Uchenna Kanu's header on to the crossbar with a stunning save.

    Nigeria will face the winners of Group D in Brisbane, which could be England if they draw with or beat China on Tuesday.

    The Republic's pre-match build-up had been dominated by the future of manager Vera Pauw, whose contract is up after the tournament and the Dutch manager felt both she and her players deserved clarity on her position.

    On the pitch, it was a cagey first half in Brisbane, where both sides struggled to keep hold of possession and the Republic of Ireland had the first chance when Katie McCabe fired wide after some good build-up play by Sinead Farrelly and the returning Heather Payne.

    The Irish support dominated the crowd in Brisbane but it was the pockets of Australian fans who had something to cheer when Hayley Raso opened the scoring for the Matildas in Melbourne.

    Knowing a draw would be enough to progress, Nigeria were content to sit deep in their own half but the Super Falcons almost took the lead when Louise Quinn gave the ball away and Asisat Oshoala raced clear, but the Barcelona forward could only fire wide when most in the stadium expected the net to bulge.

    Ireland, whose first World Cup goal came courtesy of captain McCabe against Canada, looked the more likely side to break the deadlock and came close but Payne's cross was just too far for the outstretched leg of Farrelly.

    Striker Kyra Carusa headed into the arms of Nigeria captain Chimaka Nnadozie, while Nigeria were restricted to long-range efforts from Toni Payne.

    The mood in Brisbane was further lifted before half-time when Raso scored Australia's second goal, which gave Nigeria breathing room in their quest to make the next round.

    Brosnan saves Ireland

    Courtney Brosnan makes a save
    Courtney Brosnan's world-class save to deny Uchenna Kanu kept the Republic of Ireland in the match

    Just like against Canada, the Republic of Ireland couldn't really get going after the restart and needed Brosnan's stunning save to keep the scores level.

    Kanu's header looked like it was going to bounce up into the net but Brosnan flew to her right and tipped the ball on to the crossbar.

    With the wind in their sails and the Irish defence rocking, the Africans came close moments later when Oshoala dragged an effort wide from inside the box.

    However, roared on by the Irish support, Denise O'Sullivan saw an effort well blocked by Blessing Demehin, and news of Australia's third goal came through to further ease the pressure on Randy Waldrum's side.

    Nigeria took off Oshoala, who had been nursing an injury, but they were still strong going forward and Lily Agg and Louise Quinn had to be alert to make goal-saving blocks.

    McCabe came close to repeating her 'Olympico' goal against Canada when her corner kick landed on the roof of the net as the crowd of 24,884 held its breath, but they were disappointed as Ireland's search for a winning goal failed to come to fruition.

    The Nigerian support celebrated wildly at the full-time whistle as the Super Falcons qualified for the last-16 for the second consecutive World Cup.

    Player of the match

    LittlejohnRuesha Littlejohn

    with an average of 7.93

    Republic of Ireland

    1. Squad number8Player nameLittlejohn

      Average rating

      7.93

    2. Squad number1Player nameBrosnan

      Average rating

      7.00

    3. Squad number11Player nameMcCabe

      Average rating

      6.92

    4. Squad number10Player nameO'Sullivan

      Average rating

      6.20

    5. Squad number5Player nameFahey

      Average rating

      5.93

    6. Squad number4Player nameQuinn

      Average rating

      5.92

    7. Squad number14Player namePayne

      Average rating

      5.83

    8. Squad number12Player nameAgg

      Average rating

      5.65

    9. Squad number17Player nameFarrelly

      Average rating

      5.65

    10. Squad number18Player nameCarusa

      Average rating

      5.63

    11. Squad number6Player nameConnolly

      Average rating

      5.54

    12. Squad number19Player nameLarkin

      Average rating

      4.94

    13. Squad number7Player nameCaldwell

      Average rating

      4.73

    14. Squad number20Player nameSheva

      Average rating

      4.30

    Nigeria

    1. Squad number11Player nameMonday

      Average rating

      7.46

    2. Squad number5Player nameEbi

      Average rating

      7.31

    3. Squad number12Player nameKanu

      Average rating

      7.13

    4. Squad number16Player nameNnadozie

      Average rating

      7.08

    5. Squad number7Player namePayne

      Average rating

      7.06

    6. Squad number15Player nameAjibade

      Average rating

      7.03

    7. Squad number8Player nameOshoala

      Average rating

      6.97

    8. Squad number2Player namePlumptre

      Average rating

      6.83

    9. Squad number3Player nameOhale

      Average rating

      6.76

    10. Squad number18Player nameAyinde

      Average rating

      6.69

    11. Squad number14Player nameDemehin

      Average rating

      6.57

    12. Squad number22Player nameAlozie

      Average rating

      6.53

    13. Squad number6Player nameOnumonu

      Average rating

      6.48

    14. Squad number10Player nameUcheibe

      Average rating

      6.39

    Line-ups

    Ireland

    Formation 5-4-1

    • 1Brosnan
    • 14Payne

      Substituted forShevaat 84'minutes

    • 5Fahey

      Substituted forCaldwellat 90+5'minutes

    • 4Quinn
    • 6Connolly
    • 11McCabeBooked at 68mins
    • 10O'Sullivan
    • 12Agg

      Substituted forLarkinat 83'minutes

    • 8Littlejohn
    • 17Farrelly
    • 18Carusa

    Substitutes

    • 2O'Riordan
    • 3Mustaki
    • 7Caldwell
    • 9Barrett
    • 13O'Gorman
    • 15Quinn
    • 16Moloney
    • 19Larkin
    • 20Sheva
    • 21Grant
    • 22Atkinson
    • 23Walsh

    Nigeria

    Formation 4-2-3-1

    • 16Nnadozie
    • 22Alozie
    • 3Ohale
    • 14Demehin

      Substituted forEbiat 84'minutes

    • 2Plumptre
    • 10Ucheibe
    • 18Ayinde
    • 15Ajibade
    • 7Payne
    • 12Kanu

      Substituted forMondayat 68'minutes

    • 8Oshoala

      Substituted forOnumonuat 67'minutes

    Substitutes

    • 1Oluehi
    • 4Ogbonna
    • 5Ebi
    • 6Onumonu
    • 9Oparanozie
    • 11Monday
    • 17Ordega
    • 19Echegini
    • 20Imuran
    • 21Okoronkwo
    • 23Balogun
    Referee:
    Katia Itzel García
    Attendance:
    24,884

    Match Stats

    Live Text

    1. Match ends, Republic of Ireland 0, Nigeria 0.

    2. Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 0, Nigeria 0.

    3. Attempt saved. Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gift Monday.

    4. Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Diane Caldwell replaces Niamh Fahey.

    5. Sinead Farrelly (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    6. Foul by Gift Monday (Nigeria).

    7. Hand ball by Ifeoma Onumonu (Nigeria).

    8. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

    9. Substitution, Nigeria. Onome Ebi replaces Oluwatosin Demehin.

    10. Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Marissa Sheva replaces Heather Payne.

    11. Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Abbie Larkin replaces Lily Agg.

    12. Delay in match because of an injury Kyra Carusa (Republic of Ireland).

    13. Delay in match because of an injury Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria).

    14. Attempt missed. Christy Ucheibe (Nigeria) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

    15. Lily Agg (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    16. Foul by Ifeoma Onumonu (Nigeria).

    17. Foul by Kyra Carusa (Republic of Ireland).

    18. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    19. Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Rasheedat Ajibade.

    20. Attempt missed. Halimatu Ayinde (Nigeria) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

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