Simon Kyah celebrates her goal

A brace by Kyah Simon was all Australia needed to overcome Nigeria’s Super Falcons in their second match in Group D, held at Winnipeg Stadium Friday.

Simon struck at each half, in the 29th and 68th minute, with the Nigerian ladies unable to respond.

Efforts made by strikers Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, to draw level were all off target as the Nigerians were unable to stage a comeback as they did against Sweden on Monday.

Australians celebrate their second goal

Both strikers were substituted by Coach Edwin Okon, with Desire being replaced by Perpetua Nkwocha in the 54th minute and Courtney Dike replacing Oshoala in the 84th minute.

The victory gave the Matildas three valuable points in their quest to reach the Round of 16. With USA and Sweden playing a goalless draw, in their second match, the USA now lead the group, with Australia second with three points, Sweden third with two points. Nigeria is now bottom of the group with a point.

With warmer temperatures in Winnipeg more than what the two teams experienced on Monday, the opening stages of the Group D contest lacked any real pace or scoring opportunities.

Desire Oparanozie looked dangerous for Nigeria upfront but her final touch was off the mark on a few occasions in the first 10 minutes of the FIFA Women’s World Cup match.

Almost half-an-hour in, Australia captain Lisa De Vanna made a driving run through the heart of the Nigerian defence before passing off to Simon.

She only needed to lift the ball over Precious Dede and into the net to give the Matildas the lead.

Nigeria were put on the back foot after Australia’s opener, and it was nearly 2-0 but Simon’s first effort was blocked and De Vanna’s volley from the rebound fired just wide.

The Super Falcons then began to threaten at the other end, but Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams stymied Oparanozie at the edge of the box with a great sliding challenge.

The tackle helped to take the ball straight off Oparanozie’s foot.

Seconds later, Ngozi Okobi attempted an ambitious volley from long-range, which drew a gasp from the fans, but her effort sailed high.

The Matildas doubled their lead with Simon scoring her second after Samantha Kerr floated in a lofted cross which found her and Tameka Butt unmarked.

Simon was in a better position to put it past Dede, which she did comfortably.

Laura Alleway was denied by the crossbar in the final minutes, and the Matildas never looked troubled at the other end of the pitch as they held on to keep the clean sheet intact for Williams.

Nigeria face a difficult task as they realistically need victory against the U.S. to progress to the knockout stages.

But more than this clash, an exciting match in prospect awaits the Edmonton crowd, when the Matildas face Sweden on Tuesday and the Nigerians confront the U.S.