Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.23 2021-22

Spain’s 1-0 victory over Canada earlier in the day had meant that England needed a
two-goal victory in order to finish on top of the table but, with the previous five matches
having produced a paltry six goals, this was not likely to be an easy task.
After a largely scrappy opening to the game, things burst into life and after Ellie
Roebuck had made saves from Maximiliane Rall and Lina Magull, England struck the
opening blow. A minute after Fran Kirby had a shot charged down by the German
defence, Kirby then set up Ellen White to slot home the opening goal on the quarter hour.
Germany’s initial response to going behind was a good one, with Magull firing a shot
narrowly wide, but England settled down again and Georgia Stanway was next to go close
with a shot that was saved from just inside the area.
England were forced into a change at the back as Jess Carter left the field with an
injury, to be replaced by Rachel Daly. There was an even bigger blow to come though, four
minutes before half time, as Alex Greenwood brought down Lea Schuller just outside the
area and Magull stepped up to curl an unstoppable shot past Roebuck for the equaliser.
Millie Bright headed just wide from a Greenwood free kick as the teams went into half
time with the score level at 1-1.
Klara Buhl had the first attempt on goal in the second half, with a shot off target from
the edge of the area seven minutes after the restart, but this was a rare sight on goal at
either end in the opening exchanges.
Sara Dabritz drove a shot over the bar after latching on to a pass from Magull but at
this stage, England were otherwise rarely troubled whilst not creating too much
themselves at the other end.
This was to change as the match moved into the later stages, first as Kirby had a
goalbound shot blocked after being set up by White and Bright headed wide from a Kirby
free kick. Leah Williamson fired a shot over from just outside the area as England
continued to step up the pace.
Germany responded with a Jule Brand header and Chantal Hagel shot which were
both off target but with six minutes left, England were to make the breakthrough -
admittedly with the stroke of fortune they needed.
Lauren Hemp powered at the German defence and into the area and, although her
shot charged down, the ball rebounded for Bright - who had been pushed forward - to take
a touch before slotting the ball past Merle Frohms. Replays showed that Bright was in an
offside position from Hemp’s initial shot but the goal was allowed to stand and one more
was all that was now needed.
Deep into injury time, Hemp’s headed pass found Kirby who made her way into the
area and skipped past Sophia Kleinherne before burying a shot into the roof of the net to
make it 3-1. There was no time for Germany to hit back and England celebrations could
get under way.
England: Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze (sub Ella Toone 82mins), Jess Carter (sub Rachel
Daly 34mins), Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright, Fran Kirby, Leah
Williamson, Ellen White (sub Alessia Russo 82mins), Georgia Stanway (sub Nikita
Parris 61mins), Lauren Hemp. Subs not used: Mary Earps, Demi Stokes, Hannah
Hampton, Beth Mead, Jordan Nobbs, Niamh Charles, Jill Scott, Katie Zelem.
Germany: Merle Frohms, Sophia Kleinherne, Giulia Gwinn, Maximiliane Rall, Jana
Feldkamp, Fabienne Dongus (sub Chantal Hagel 72mins), Sara Dabritz, Nicole Anyomi
(sub Jule Brand 45mins), Lina Magull (sub Linda Dallmann 72mins), Klara Buhl (sub
Selina Cerci 88mins), Lea Schuller. Subs not used: Leonie Maier, Laura Freigang,
Martina Tufekovic, Hasret Kayikci, Felicitas Rauch, Ann-Katrin Berger, Sara
Doorsoun, Ramona Petzelberger.
Issue no. 23 - 24 February 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk