VANCOUVER — The United States beat Nigeria 1-0 to take top spot in the “Group of Death” on Tuesday night and move onto the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup with Australia.
Abby Wambach, the all-time leading scorer in women’s soccer, added to her record total in the 45th minute and that was the only goal the Americans would need to finish the group phase unbeaten with a record of 2-1-0.
The Nigerian challenge faded in the 69th minute when the Super Falcons were reduced to 10 women after Sarah Nnodim was shown the red card for a clumsy challenge on Sydney Leroux.
Hope Solo collected her 173rd cap to pull level with Briana Scurry for most international appearances by a U.S. goalkeeper, while Wambach’s 14th World Cup tally moved the American captain into a tie for second on the all-time list with Germany’s Birgit Prinz.
Earlier on Tuesday, midfielder Gabrielle Onguene scored the tying goal and set up the winner as Cameroon defeated Switzerland 2-1 in Edmonton, Alberta, to advance to the knockout round.
Cameroon becomes the second African team to make it out of the group stage in a Women’s World Cup, joining the 1999 Nigeria team. Both Cameroon and Switzerland were making their Women’s World Cup debuts.
The Indomitable Lionesses finished second in Group C with six points. Defending champion Japan topped the group with nine points after a 1-0 win over Ecuador.
The Group C results also assured the U.S. team a spot in the round of 16 before its Tuesday night win over Nigeria in Vancouver, British Columbia.
A 24th-minute goal by forward Ana Maria Crnogorcevic powered Switzerland to a halftime lead, but Cameroon dominated the second half.
In the 47th minute, Onguene powered in a shot from near the top of the penalty area to level the score.
Cameroon’s all-time leading scorer, forward Madaleine Ngono Mani, came off the bench in the 57th minute and scored the game-winner five minutes later. Onguene rounded a defender while driving toward the end line on the right side, then sent in a low cross to the middle of the box, where Mani stooped to knock in a header.
Switzerland, needing only a tie to advance, failed to offer much offense in the second half.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, a fifth-minute goal from forward Yuki Ogimi was enough for Japan to complete a perfect run through group play.
Japan put nine shots on target to just one for Ecuador, and Japan controlled 73 percent of the ball possession.
On Monday, Canada stumbled late against the Netherlands but the 1-1 result still was enough for the host team to win Group A and advance to the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup.
Ashley Lawrence put Canada ahead in the 10th minute with a shot that deflected in off Dutch goalkeeper Loes Geurts. A late goal from Netherlands substitute Kirsten Van De Ven in the 87th minute evened the game for good in Montreal.
Moments before allowing her first goal of the tournament, Erin McLeod had made a splendid left leg save on Netherlands forward Manon Melis.
Canada will next play a third-place finisher on Saturday in Vancouver, while the Netherlands, third in the group, will have to wait to see if it moves on to the Round of 16.