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That's all from me, thanks for joining me for this match. I've been Liam McMahon, goodbye for now.
Alex Morgan is our woman of the match. She was the difference for the American attack, and has filled a nation which had briefly lost hope that the United States can win the World Cup.
Australia and Sweden drew 1-1, so the Australians are through with 4 points in second place and Sweden will have to wait and hope that they are good enough to make it as one of the top third placed finishers.
They are the group winners with seven points, and will avoid Germany, Brazil and Japan in the Round of 16.
The United States has deserved to win this match, and probably could have won the match by more if they wanted to.
90+3' This has been a terrific performance from the US, and there is the final whistle.
90+2' Chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!" ringing around the stadium.
90+1' Nothing being created at all by either side.
90' Leroux looks to break up the play and inadvertently gives away a dangerous attacking throw. Three additional minutes coming.
89' Very anticlimactic end to this game. Nigeria content to sit back, US content to knock the ball around.
88' Nigeria trying to string passes together but it isn't working.
87' USA with a period of sustained, comfortable possession.
86' Leroux whistled for a foul at the attacking end of the pitch, she was a little overzealous as she looked for the ball.
85' Americans defending comfortably here.
84' Nigeria throwing numbers forward but don't look like getting a goal.
83' Apologies for the brief delay folks, I was experiencing some technical difficulties.
81' A reminder of the live table, which at the moment has the United States on seven points, Australia on four, Sweden on three and Nigeria on one.
80' SUBSTITUTION UNITED STATES TOBIN HEATH OFF CHRISTIE RAMPONE ON
79' Wambach penalized for another silly foul.
78' Solo catches a cross easily, and Christie Rampone is about to come on for the Americans.
77' SUBSTITUTION NIGERIA FRANCISCA ORDEGA OFF CECILIA NKU ON
76' Wambach ends a spell of US pressure with a silly foul.
75' Since the head injuries, this game has lost any sense of a flow.
74' SUBSTITUTION UNITED STATES MEGAN RAPINOE OFF SHANNON BOXX ON
73' Nigeria getting desperate now, throwing more numbers forward.
72' Oshoala has a hit from distance that Solo holds easily.
71' Holliday takes a shot from the ensuing free kick, but it's held by Dede.
70' Can Nigeria find a way to get two goals back down a player?
69' Nnodim Sarah is sent off as she picks up her second yellow card. Leroux sprinted forward and was hacked down just outside the box, and now the US are up a woman.
68' Ngozi Okobi enters the book for a bad tackle on Rapinoe.
67' Sauerbrunn with some dogged defending and blocks a cross out for a corner.
66' Morgan was terrific tonight, she added something that was missing from the American attack over the first two matches of this tournament.
65' SUBSTITUTION ALEX MORGAN OFF SYDNEY LEROUX ON
64' Klingenberg with some great defending before winning a foul deep in her defensive half.
63' Only a matter of time until the United States get another goal.
62' Dede with another great save! Krieger made a terrific run down the right wing and whipped a cross into the box that Morgan gets onto just before Dede. Morgan gets a shot off, but Dede smothers it.
61' Game just trying to regain a flow after the head injuries.
60' Josephine was the one who headed the back of Wambach's head, and she's down holding her head as well. As she gets up, she gets a yellow card for the bad challenge.
59' Wambach down now after taking a blow to the head. She loks alright, but might be bleeding.
58' Heath flagged for offside as she looked to make a run in behind.
57' Krieger whips in a cross towards Wambach, and she gets a header to the ball. There's nothing behind the header, and Dide holds it well.
56' Americans turning up the level now...
55' Oshoala takes from 40 yards out, and Solo was worried as the ball whistled over the bar and onto the side netting.
54' Oshoala fouled, and here comes a dangerous free kick for Nigeria.
53' Lloyd leads a break forward, and she plays the ball to Morgan. She keepsing forward and tries to find Wambach but her pass is overhit.
52' Morgan makes another dangerous run, she's been great today.
51' Nigeria hoping these substitutions will change the flow of play, but that doesn't look likely.
50' SUBSTITUTION COURTNEY DIKE OFF ESTHER SUNDAY OFF HALIMATU AYINDE ON DESIRE OPARANOZIE ON
49' Nigeria preparing some substitutions...
48' Morgan forces Dede into a terrific save. She is played in on goal, and looks to lob the keeper. However, Dide gets up well and gets a hand to the ball.
47' Morgan plays another dangerous ball into the box that is somehow cleared.
46' The United States come forward immediately after the restart, and Alex Morgan sends in back to back dangerous crosses, but nothing comes of it.
Almost time to get the action back underway...
A reminder that the top four third placed teams advance on to the knockout stages.
Sweden and Australia are knotted up at 1-1, so as results stand Australia will advance in second place at the moment while Sweden would be sitting and waiting to see if three points is enough to be a top third place finisher.
A reminder that as results stand, the United States will advance from Group D as group winners.
I'll be back in 15 minutes for the second half, talk to you all then.
It's been a terrific first half from the United States and they merit their 1-0 lead. This is the performance that every American fan was hoping for heading into this match.
45+1' As the United States continue their celebrations of the goal, the referee blows for half time.
45' GOAL UNITED STATES (ABBY WAMBACH)! Rapinoe whips a corner in to the back post and Wambach comes flying in to finish with a volley in the middle of the air! Great finish.
44' Rapinoe and Morgan combine well, and some dogged work from the striker wins a corner.
43' Onome Ebi enters the book for a scything tackle on Rapinoe.
42' A succession of US corners comes to nothing.
41' Heath tries to dance down the right wing, but it's tackled out for a corner.
40' US tries to work a short corner, but it doesn't work.
39' Morgan is played in on goal, but Dede comes out really well and blocks her shot out for a corner.
38' Sarah Nnodim enters the book for a hard challenge.
37' Morgan is really adding fluency to the American attack, they've missed her.
36' The free kick is whipped in, and it gets a flick on but Lloyd can't get on the end of the pass.
35' Rapinoe is fouled, and here comes an attacking free kick.
34' Rapinoe whips the ball into the box off a short corner routine, and his cross is blocked by a hand. No penalty given.
33' Klingenberg has a chance to whip a ball into the box where Wambach is unmarked, but her cross is just underhit. Rapinoe picks up the pieces, and has a shot which is saved out for a corner.
32' Ortega is played in behind, but her cross is a disappointment.
31' The US has really dominated out here, but they're still lacking the final ball.
30' United States dominating here, they've had 65% of the possession.
29' Sauerbrunn with a great tackle to cut out a dangerous ball into Oshoala.
28' This has been the best the United States has looked all tournament, and they're unfortunate not to lead.
27' US with a sustained period of possession here.
26' Krieger with a mishit pass into the center of the box, and Johnston is forced to make a great tackle to save possession.
25' Nothing comes of the corner. That chance was a big warning sign for the US, they need to score soon.
24' Johnston with a huge block! Oshoala is played in on goal, but the center back recovers and blocks the shot out for a corner.
23' Krieger with a searching ball towards Rapinoe, but the pass is overhit.
22' Nigeria with a succession of corners, but nothing comes of it.
21' US totally dominating play out here, but they haven't gotten a goal yet.
20' Rapinoe tries to find Morgan over the top, but the pass is just overhit.
19' Heath looks to scamper down the left wing but she gets too intricate and has the ball tackled away.
18' Rapinoe's corner finds Wambach, who is wide open at the back post. Her header sails wide. Should have been a goal with her aerial ability.
17' Wambach is played in on goal but the flag comes up again for offside. Her chipped finish was well over the bar. Again, looks like the assistant got that decision wrong. Rapinoe has a strike from distance seconds later that swerves and is saved out for a corner.
16' Sweden have pegged back Australia, so, as results stand, the United States would win the group.
15' Rapinoe whips in a dangerous cross, which is cleared out to Krieger. She whips another ball into the box that takes a slight deflection and runs between Wambach and Heath.
14' Lloyd's been sitting deeper tonight, but she finally strides forward and has a hit from distance that sails well wide.
13' Rapinoe with a barnstorming run forward and has a strike which is deflected. The deflection takes all the sting out of the shot.
12' Nigeria with a good piece of play, and Oshoala has a hit at goal that forces Solo into an easy save.
11' Nigeria growing into the game now...
10' Nigeria with a little spell of possession here, but nothing comes of it.
9' It's all US right now, only a matter of time until they score.
8' Johnston has the ball in the back of the net and the crowd erupts before they see that the offside flag has come up. Looks like the assistant ref got that one completely wrong, should be 1-0.
7' Morgan taken down, and here comes another dangerous free kick...
6' Rapinoe goes on a dangerous run down the right wing, but her cross in towards Morgan is overhit.
5' Australia are already ahead, which means they could have six points at the end of the day. That means the US needs to win tonight to win the group.
4' Rapinoe takes another dangerous free kick, but her ball in is just overhit.
3' The United States totally on the front foot here.
2' The United States have another attacking free kick. Rapinoe takes and floats a ball into the box towards Wambach, who wins the header. However, a number of American players are offside, and the flag comes up again.
1' And we are underway with the Americans launching an attack. It's a set play from the Americans with Carli Lloyd slotting in to right back. The kick is sent to her, and she floats a ball forward to Wambach who nods the ball on towards Morgan. She can't quite get to the ball, and the flag comes up for offside anyway.
Both anthems are over, and it's time to get this match underway. Here we go.
Nigeria wearing green tonight, and the Americans are in their white kit with black trim and those oh so American looking neon green socks.
It'll be good to see a sold out stadium this evening, attendance has been disappointing thus far in the tournament.
The teams are starting to enter the tunnels, and they're about to head out for the anthems. BC Place is sold out tonight, so we should be in for a superb atmosphere.
It's a bit surprising that there is no room in the startling lineup for Christen Press given that she is one of the most technical players on the team, but she doesn't fit into the more direct system of play it looks like the United States will utilize this evening.
Additionally, Alex Morgan will make her first start of the tournament. This is the 3rd different striker pairing we've seen from the United States, and it's clear that Ellis is hoping that this one will produce goal for the Americans.
Clearly, Jill Ellis has chosen to go with a different offensive look in this match. She's looking for more pace on the wings, so Tobin Heath has entered the fray. She's the Americans' only true winger, and they'll look to her for width.
Nigeria starting XI: Dede (GK), Ebi, Josephine, Esther, Oshoala, Dike, Sarah, Okobi, Nwabunoku (C), Francisca, Ebere
United States starting XI: Solo (GK); Krieger, Sauerbrunn, Johnston, Klingenberg; Heath, Holliday, Lloyd, Rapinoe; Wambach (C), Morgan
In case you're looking for more reading on tonight's impending fixture, here's our comprehensive match preview.
However, it did not work, and Press was shifted around in the formation after Wambach and Morgan came on. Press is expected to start tonight, but not at striker so that one of those two can. Who will it be who starts, Wambach? Or Morgan?
For those of you keeping score at home, you’ll be aware that there’s something missing. The United States play a 4-4-2 system, and if Morgan and Wambach both came off of the bench we’re missing that second striker. Against Sweden, the United States started Christen Press at striker. Press and Leroux combined for the American’s second goal against Australia, and Ellis was clearly hoping they would continue to combine again to ignite the attack.
It will be very, very interesting to see what sort of lineup United States manager Jill Ellis rolls out tonight. Morgan is still coming back off of her leg injury and has appeared as a substitute in each of the first two group stage matches. Leroux has started both matches, but has not looked herself. Wambach started the first match but didn’t play too well, and came on as a substitute against Sweden.
It’s hard for me to count the number of times that I’ve seen a terrific passing move break down because the ball takes a funky bounce off the turf. It’s hard to decipher just how often a player has picked up a knock or a horrible burn on their leg because of the turf. While there has certainly been quite a bit of terrific play at this World Cup, the turf is not adding to the quality of play we’ve seen.
However, the offensive woes are not solely their fault. Abby Wambach is getting up there in years, and Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux have been battling injuries as of late. Additionally, it seems fair to say that the United States have been adversely affected by the artificial turf surfaces which adorn every stadium at this Women’s World Cup.
Although their 3-1 victory over Australia on the opening day showed good grit and character (for more reading, full recap here), the Americans are struggling mightily to create chances. The old idea of playing hard, fast and physical isn’t wearing teams down the way it has in the past, and the play from Lauren Holliday and Carli Lloyd in the center of the park has left a lot to be desired.
The Nigerians are not the only team who enter into this one off of a disappointing result. The United States drew 0-0 with Sweden last time out, and their offense continues to splutter. A full recap of that can be found right here.
Will Nigeria be affected by the disappointing result? It means that they need a win tonight and some help if they are to advance on from this stage of the tournament, and it looks highly unlikely that they will beat the Americans.
Australia had their way in that match, and had the Nigerians beaten all ends up. The 2-0 scoreline was richly deserved, and it could well have been more.
It will be intriguing to see what sort of mindset the Nigerians enter with in tonight’s match. While their opening day draw with Sweden was a superb performance, they underwhelmed greatly last time out against Australia.
While many consider the United States to be a superior team to Sweden, they will need to guard against any complacency which could lead to a shock result.
Then, shockingly, Sweden scored again to go back up by a score of 3-2. It seemed that they would have the strength to see off the game and hold on for the win they expected to pick up. However, Francisca Ordega had no regard for the current world order, and struck back with an equalizer in the 87th minute to rescue a point for the Nigerians.
The Swedes are ranked fifth in the world, and are one of the few teams people feel have a genuine chance of winning this tournament. It appeared as if they were well on their way to stating their potential championship qualifications when they raced out to a 2-0 lead and were dominating the match. However, Nigeria pegged them back to get level at 2-all, and anything seemed possible.
However, Nigeria pulled off one of THE shock results of the tournament so far, drawing with Sweden on matchday one. The full recap can be found here.
This is a true David - Goliath match-up, but throughout this tournament Nigeria have proven that they are no pushover. The United States are ranked second in the world while Nigeria are 31 spots behind them in 33rd.
Hello and welcome to VAVEL USA’s LIVE coverage of this evening’s Group D action from the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Tonight it is my pleasure to bring you the final match from Group D, as the United States take on Nigeria at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. My name is Liam McMahon, and I hope you’re looking forward to this match as much as I am.