England star Kelly attributes their success against Nigeria to their rigorous penalty practice
Chloe Kelly of England credited their effective penalty practice as she successfully converted the crucial spot-kick, propelling the Lionesses into the World Cup quarter-finals following a tense 0-0 draw against Nigeria.
The reigning European champions had to endure extra time with one player down after Lauren James received a red card for violent conduct towards the end of the regulation 90 minutes.
England's Georgia Stanway initially missed the mark with the first penalty, but goals from Bethany England, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood, and Kelly secured a 4-2 victory in the shootout, averting a major upset in Brisbane.
"It's truly remarkable. No matter the challenges we face, we consistently demonstrate our capabilities," stated the Manchester City forward, who had also clinched the winning goal in the previous year's European Championship final.
Sarina Wiegman's team is set to encounter either Colombia or Jamaica in the quarter-finals, positioning them as strong contenders for their maiden Women's World Cup victory.
However, luck was on their side as they managed to avoid an early exit similar to Germany and the United States. Nigeria dominated the match, even striking the crossbar through Ashleigh Plumptre during the first half.
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