Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie continued her heroics from the World Cup, saving two penalties to helps Paris FC defeat Arsenal.
Paris FC have knocked Arsenal out of the UEFA Women's Champions League, and they have their Nigerian shot-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie to thank.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper carries on her form from the recent women’s World Cup, where she was indubitably one of the Super Falcon’s better performers, into her club side, helping them advance through the UWCL qualifying rounds.
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Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie has been one of the standout goalkeepers at the FIFAWWC in New Zealand and Australia and was in top form again against England.
She kept a clean sheet as her French team dispatched Ukrainian side Kryvbas 4-0 in the previous round, and now she saved two penalties in the shootouts against Arsenal after a 3-3 scoreline after extra-time.
How it happened
The first-half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams creating chances but failing to find the opener. Upon returning, however, the Parisian club took control of affairs, with Mathilde Bourdieu scoring a brace just before the hour mark.
The English team looked headed for defeat before new signing Alessia Russo gave Jonas Eidevall’s side a glimmer of hope, beating Nnadozie in the 80th minute. This sparked a fire in the belly of the Arsenal girls, and their late flurry of attacks bore fruit, as Jennifer Beattie scored an equaliser deep into injury time after only three minutes of coming on.
Paris went ahead for the second time in the game in extra-time, but Russo, already endearing herself to her new fans, drew Arsenal level.
The game went into penalty shootouts, and it was Nnadozie’s time to shine; she did. The 22-year-old saved back-to-back penalties, denying Frida Manuum, before blemishing Russo’s afternoon by denying her from 18 yards out. Paris scored four of five attempted spot-kicks and head into the next round of the competition in place of Arsenal.