Captain Abby Wambach scored her 183rd international goal for the 'Stars and Stripes' to ensure the 1991 and 1999 champions finish top of Group D on front of a crowd of capacity crowd of nearly 53,000 at BC Place Stadium.

Wambach's 14th World Cup goal came just before half time off a Megan Rapinoe corner and leaves her just one shy of Brazil star Marta's record 15 achieved earlier in the tournament.

Nigeria were playing without defender Ugo Njoku who was suspended for three games for elbowing Australian midfielder Sam Kerr in the face during their group clash last week.

And the African champions played the last 20 miuntes a defender down after Sarah Nnodim was given her marching orders after a second yellow card following a challenge on Rapinoe.

The result means the 2011 runners-up advance to the knockout round as Group D leaders with seven points, and eliminates Nigeria, who finish bottom of the table with one point.

As first in Group D the USA next meet the best third-placed finisher from Groups B, E and F in Edmonton next Monday.

Australia advance despite Sweden stalemante
 
Australia advanced to the last 16 as well despite being held 1-1 by Sweden in their final group game.

Captain Lisa De Vanna scored after five minutes for the Matildas but ten minutes later Sweden were on level terms thanks to Sofia Jakobsson's equaliser at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.

A draw was enough to see Australia through to the knockout round for a third consecutive time as they finish second in Group D behind the United States.