Olympic champions the United States beat 10-woman Nigeria 1-0 to advance to the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Tuesday.

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.