Women’s World Cup Catch-up – Day Eight

ENGLAND 2 MEXICO 1

Mark Sampson’s England finally got their World Cup campaign up and running after a hard-fought win over Mexico in Moncton.

The Lionesses desperately needed a good result following the opening defeat to France.

Mexico rarely threatened England’s goal and the three Lion’s had decent efforts by Reading’s Fran Kirby, Manchester City’s Toni Duggan and Chelsea’s Eniola Aluko, with the latter clipping the crossbar just before the break.

The deadlock was finally broken with 19 minutes to go, as Player of the Match Kirby’s deft touch inside Mexico’s penalty area created a chance for herself, which she duly finished with the ball going in off the post.

Two England substitutes combined to make it 2-0 after Birmingham’s Karen Carney nodded the ball past goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago from a brilliant cross by Notts County’s Alex Greenwood.

England were cruising as the game entered stoppage time but were given a stark warning when goalkeeper Karen Bardsley spilt Charlyn Corral’s strike and Fabiola Ibarra popped up to poke home from close range.

England:

Bardsley, Rafferty (Greenwood 53), Williams, Houghton ©, Bassett, J. Scott (Carney 66), Aluko, Moore, Bronze (A. Scott 85), Duggan, Kirby.

Mexico:

Santiago, Robles, Garciamendez, Ruiz, Rangel ©, Corral, Mayor, Ocampo (Ibarra 89), Sierra (Miranda 46), Perez, Cuellar (Sanchez 77).