🚨 Nigeria stun co-hosts as Australia's tournament hangs by a thread | OneFootball

There were three brilliant Women’s World Cup games played on Thursday.

Here’s what happened.

Co-hosts’ struggle to topple brilliant Nigeria

Scorers: Van Egmond 45′, Kennedy 90+10; Kanu 45+6′, Ohale 65′, Oshoala 73′

Nigeria produced one of the wins of the tournament so far as they beat Australia 3-2.

The co-hosts’ were looking to make it two wins from two in this tournament as they took on bottom side Nigeria.

But they would have to do so without Sam Kerr, who was missing once again following her injury in the warm-up on matchday one.

The first 20 minutes were exhilarating stuff with the Matildas dangerous on the ball and controlling possession, but Nigeria rapid in transition and always dangerous in behind.

The best chance though, came late on as the African nation almost shocked the home crowd.

A corner came in from the right that was headed towards the Aussie goal but the ball bounced off Ashleigh Plumptre’s boot and went agonisingly wide of the far post.

As the game headed towards first half injury time however, Australia took the lead.

Emily Van Egmond arrived late into the area and side-footed the ball into the back of the net.

But that wasn’t the end of this thrilling first half as Nigeria equalised through Kanu.

Into the second half and Nigeria were at their clinical best midway through the half as Osinachi Ohale headed in from close range to give the Super Eagles a lead.

Nigeria then got their third soon after as Asisat Oshoala pounced on some terrible Australia defending and finished well into an empty net.

With almost the last kick of the game Australia pulled one back through Alanna Kennedy.

But it wasn’t enough and means that Australia’s hopes of going to the latter stages now hang by a balance with one game left.

Portugal make history with debut win

Scorers: Encarnação 6′, Nazareth 21′

Portugal claimed their first ever Women’s World Cup victory as he clinical first half saw them beat Vietnam 2-0.

These two World Cup debutantes were looking for their opening win of the tournament having both lost on matchday one.

It was a real end-to-end encounter early on as both sides had gilt-edged chances to open the scoring.

And the opening goal came after only seven minutes as Telma Encarnação arrived late into the area and smashed home first time.

Portugal then doubled their lead midway through the first half as Francesca Nazareth raced in behind the defence and swpet home.

Into the second half and once again, despite some spirited play from the Vietnamese, it was Portugal who looked most dangerous in the final third.

As the game went on it turned into a bit of a procession as the Seleçao knocked on the door trying to find that third goal that would put them out of reach.

Netherlands hold USA in 2019 final re-run

The two 2019 Women’s World Cup finalists met again in New Zealand but could not be separated.

Scorers: Horan 62′; Roord 17′

The Netherlands dominated possession but the USWNT dominated the chances as the sides shared the spoils in Wellington on Thursday.

It was the Dutch who struck first and led for a while, with a superb run from Lieke Martens launching the attack for the opener. The ball eventually fell to Victoria Pelova on the right and she found Jill Roord, who drilled the ball into the far corner from just inside the box.

Dominique Janssen went close to doubling the lead from distance before the break as the world champions struggled to create clear cut chances at the other end.

Though they looked more likely after the break, the equaliser came out of nowhere, with Lindsey Horan nodding home from a corner to level things up.

Alex Morgan had the ball in the net soon after but the goal was disallowed for offside. Trinity Rodman was introduced and flashed the ball wide across goal after nice work from Sophia Smith, who then had a superb effort of her own headed off the line following a corner.

The Netherlands held on despite the pressure and both teams head into the final group game with four points.