Christine Sinclair was a victim of Chiamaka Nnadozie’s heroic goalkeeping during Canada’s FIFA Women’s World Cup opener against Nigeria.
Sinclair and her teammates dominated the match, but Nnadozie stood firm to earn her team a solid point at the Rectangular Stadium in Australia.
Canada however had the opportunity to win the game in the second half, when Sinclair went down in the box under a clumsy tackle from Francisca Ordega.
Finnish referee Lina Lehtovaara initially waved away the penalty claim, but after a review by the VAR, reversed her decision.
The 40-year-old Sinclair, who has been a talismanic figure for the Canadians for over two decades and in her 324th international, stepped forward to take the kick but Chiamaka Nnadozie kept out of her effort.
With the save, Nnadozie denied Sinclair the opportunity to be the first person ever to score at six World Cups and add to her 190 international goals.
The shot stopper was also named player of the match after the final whistle.
Nigeria will be banking on the 22-year-old FC Paris goalkeeper again when they take on co-hosts Australia in their second Group B game on Thursday.
