Page 7 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.34 2022-23
P. 7

Spain 3 England 1
       England  Under-17s  suffered  last  gasp  heartbreak  in  their  UEFA  Women’s  Under-17
       Championship semi finals as Spain scored two late goals to book their place in Friday’s final.
           The game looked as though it was going to penalties until Spain scored twice in the 88th
       and first minute of injury time to ensure it would be the reigning Under-17 world champions
       who face France in Friday night’s Final in Estonia, France having cvrushed Switzerland 10-2
       in the other semi final.
           England began their group matches with a 2-1 win over Poland, Michelle Agyemang
       scoring both goals. Agyemang then netted twice again as England then defeated Sweden 3-1,
       Ava Baker adding the other goal, and the final group match ended in a 1-1 draw with France,
       with Mari Ward on target.
           Mo Marley made five changes to England’s starting eleven from that against France,
       with goalkeeper Sophia Poor and the tournament’s joint top goalscorer Michelle Agyemang
       among those to return.
           Spain had scored in the opening ten minutes of each game they had played so far and it
       was to happen again, Vicky López powerfully heading home a pinpoint cross by Cris from the
       right inside five minutes.
           Spain continued to dominate possession and territory as England struggled to get a
       foothold in the match and Poor needed to make a number of saves in the first half, whilst the
       outstanding Lopez rattled the bar with a 25-yard free kick.
           England managed to dig in though and kept the scoreline to just one behind at the
       interval  and  as  the  game  restarted,  came  more  into  the  game  as  an  attacking  force.  A
       dangerous cross from the right by Baker was only half cleared by the Spanish defence and
       Laila Harbert fired over the bar.
           Poor needed to save at the other end from Ainhoa Aguacil but England had started on
       the front foot with Agyemang having a shot blocked, but then Poor made a crucial save from
       a Spanish counter attack to deny Pau when she was through on goal.
           Ten minutes after the restart, England got the breakthrough they craved after Agyemang
       was fouled just outside the area. Baker floated a teasing inswinging cross which picked out
       Katie Reid at the far post and the defender glanced a neat header into the net from six yards.
          Spain responded to their setback with Cris and Vicky López having shots saved by Poor
       but England were looking much more assured in defence, their confidence visibly boosted
       by Reid’s equaliser.
           With no extra time to be played, penalties began to loom large and there was a worrying
       moment as Agyemang went down with an injury as she stumbled when trying to reach a
       through ball by Mari Ward, but she was able to carry on.
           However with just two minutes remaining, England were dealt the cruellest of blows. A
       clearance  was  picked  up  by  Ainoa  Gómez  just  outside  the  area,  where  her  shot  took  a
       deflection off Ward and beyond the reach of a despairing Poor to put Spain back in front.
           There was more drama to come in injury time, Baker breaking down the right and her
       low cross looked destined for Agyemang but Alazne Estensoro just managed to divert the ball
       away with her fingertips and prevent an almost certain goal.
           Spain immediately counter attacked and, with England committed forward, Noa Oretga
       raced into the area and squared the ball across for Pau to show great composure and slide
       her shot into the corner of the net to put the result beyond doubt.
       England:  Sophia  Poor,  Ria  Bose,  Mari  Ward,  Laila  Harbert,  Katie  Reid,  Zara  Shaw,
       Araya Dennis (sub Erica Parkinson 74mins), Lexi Potter, Michelle Agyemang, Lola Brown
       (sub Isabella Fisher 90mins), Ava Baker. Subs not used: Katie Cox, Milly Round, Holly
       Deering, Lucy Newell, Sophie Harwood, Vera Jones.
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