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2019 England Get World Cup Italy Shocks

12th, Campaign Off To A Winning

June Start Against Scotland Australia In

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EXAMINER Women’s World Cup

IRISH

England made a winning start to their Women’s World Cup
campaign as they saw off debutants Scotland 2-1 in Nice.
In front of a crowd of 13,188 at the Allianz Riviera, Nikita
Parris put the Lionesses ahead with a 14th-minute penalty
awarded for handball via VAR and Ellen White’s curled finish
made it 2-0 in the 40th minute.
Having looked very much in control, Phil Neville’s team, Italy players celebrate after winning the Women’s World Cup Group C match against Australia at the Stade
du Hainaut (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
who were denied by some fine Lee Alexander saves and had arbara Bonansea’s last-gasp minute following a Video er and into the corner of the
two efforts chalked off for offside, then endured a nervy finale goal gave Italy a shock 2-1 Assistant Review. net.
after Claire Emslie pulled a goal back with 11 minutes remain- BwinintheirWomen’sWorld After the initial scare, Sam Italy appeared to take the
ing. Cup Group C opener against Kerr put the Matildas ahead in lead through Daniela Sabatino,
While Scotland could not save themselves from defeat, they Australia. the 22nd minute, firing in the who found the net at the sec-
will take heart from their efforts in their first Women’s World The Juventus striker netted rebound after her penalty was ond attempt after her initial
Cup finals appearance, two years after being thrashed 6-0 by twice as Italy, who are at the saved. effort rebounded off the post,
England in the last meeting, at Euro 2017. tournament for the first time in Bonansea made up for her but the linesman ruled the
The teams next play on Friday when Shelley Kerr’s 20 years, came from behind to earlier chance in the 56th striker offside.
Scotland face Japan in Rennes before England take on secure all three points against minute, taking advantage of a And in the fifth minute of
Argentina in Le Havre. an Australian side ranked sixth heavy touch from center-back stoppage time, Bonansea nod-
With Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon among those in the world. Clare Polkinghorne as she ran ded in a cross at the back post
watching from the stands, Kerr’s side made a fairly bright start Bonansea had a goal disal- into the box and slotted the ball to stun Australia and give Italy
to the contest, with Caroline Weir having an early shot lowed for offside in the eighth through the legs of the defend- the perfect start. C
blocked, before they fell behind just prior to the quarter-hour
Fran Kirby’s cross struck Nicola Docherty on the arm and, Argentina Get Their First World Cup
mark as England benefited from VAR.

after Czech referee Jana Adamkova watched footage back and
pointed to the spot, Parris fired in from 12 yards. Point In Dour Draw With Japan
Kirby sent a low shot just wide five minutes later and, as
England continued to press, Alexander made an excellent rgentina secured their first Correa had fumbled Kumi when Sole Jaimes’ shot was
block with her leg to keep out a strike from White, who then point at a Women’s World Yokoyama’s 30-yard shot. blocked following Estefania
beat the goalkeeper with a header, only to see the flag up for ACupfinalsafterholdingJapan Aya Sameshima was next to Banini’s run and cross from the
offside. in a dour goalless draw at Parc des threaten for Japan, but her left, but the South Americans
Scotland responded with an Emslie strike that was comfort- Princes. burst into the box was thwart- offered little going forward.
ably caught by Karen Bardsley, before Alexander saved well The South Americans, elim- ed by Virginia Gomez’s sliding Hasegawa almost broke the
with her leg again, denying Beth Mead, and dealt with a White inated from the group stages at tackle. deadlock in stoppage time fol-
effort. the 2003 and 2007 finals, turned Japan wasted another lowing a defensive mix-up, but
England then doubled their advantage as Kirby got her boot in a dogged defensive display to chance soon after. Yui her close-range effort was
to a ball from Alex Greenwood before Scotland captain Rachel deny Japan victory in their Hasegawa pulled her shot off pushed away by goalkeeper
Corsie, and the touch teed up White to beat Alexander. opening Group D game. target from inside the area after Vanina Correa and Argentina
Erin Cuthbert went close to pulling a goal back as she Japan dominated both Hina Sugita’s clever step-over. held out to celebrate their
struck narrowly wide. halves, but struggled to break Argentina briefly threatened draw. C
England had the ball in Scotland’s net again early in the sec- down Argentina’s well-drilled
ond half, but Mead’s strike was another effort disallowed for defense. FIFA/Getty
offside. Yuika Sugasawa and Shoya
After Emslie saw an attempt gathered by Bardsley, Nakajima both spurned early
Alexander pulled off another great stop as she pushed away half-chances, but otherwise
White’s volley. Japan, for all their possession,
Scotland then reduced the deficit when England captain lacked a cutting edge.
Steph Houghton gave the ball away and Lisa Evans set up Japan showed moreurgency
Emslie’s strike. after the break and should have
It made for a tense conclusion, but England were able to taken the lead when Sugasawa
hang on for three points in Group D. C fired a rebound over the cross-
bar after Argentina goalkeeper