Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.10 2022-23

England 4 (Daly 38, Kelly 53, Toone 77, Park 90)
Japan 0
England cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Japan in the opening of their two
friendly matches in Pinatar.
England went on the attack from the start and Ella Toone called Ayaka Yamashita
into action in the second minute, with a strike from outide the area which forced an
early save.
Toone would have the next chance after eleven minutes, with Chloe Kelly
breaking down the left after being released by Niamh Charles, before crossing to find
Toone who couldn’t find the right connection to trouble Yamashita.
After a slow start, Japan began to edge their way into the game and Yui Hasegawa
had her side’s first real sight of goal, forcing Mary Earps into her first save of the night
at her near post.
England struck back with Alessia Russo clipping the post with a header from close
range after Kelly had driven in a cross from the left.
It was then Mead’s turn to be denied, this time by Yamashita with a terrific save
low to her right after the Arsenal forward had looked to slide a shot past her after being
played in by Toone.
The breakthrough then came for England after 38 minutes, with Kelly finding
space down the left and her cross was not cleared and fell to Rachel Daly to smash
home after Mead had caught Hina Sugita in possession.
England also started the second half on the front foot and doubled their lead
within eight minutes of the restart, Kelly finishing off at the far post after Mead had
raced down the right and crossed.
England made a number of substitutions midway through the second half and
Ebony Salmon played a big part in their third goal after she had been introduced up
front. Salmon produced a neat reverse pass which wrongfooted the Japanese defence
and put Toone through on goal where she made no mistake, lifting the ball over
Yamashita and into the far corner.
As the game entered injury time, Jess Park was given a senior debut and the
youngster was to make an instant impact. There was an element of fortune as Salmon
appeared to foul Saori Takarada when winning the ball but play was allowed to go on
and Salmon drove on into the area and squared for Park to tap in from point blank
range.
England: Mary Earps, Rachel Daly, Niamh Charles, Keira Walsh (sub Katie Zelem
89mins), Millie Bright, Esme Morgan, Beth Mead, Georgia Stanway (sub Jess Park
89mins), Alessia Russo (sub Ebony Salmon 64mins), Ella Toone (sub Nikita Parris
80mins), Chloe Kelly (sub Lauren James 64mins). Subs not used: Ellie Roebuck, Lotte
Wubben-Moy, Maya Le Tissier, Katie Robinson, Sandy MacIver, Gabby George.
Japan: Ayaka Yamashita, Risa Shimizu, Moeka Minami, Saki Kumagai, Shiori
Miyake (sub Saori Takarada 70mins), Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa (sub Aoba
Fujino 86mins), Mana Iwabuchi (sub Mina Tanaka 59mins), Yui Hasegawa, Hina
Sugita. Subs not used: Hikaru Naomoto, Riko Ueki, Ruka Norimatsu, Honoka
Hayashi, Momoko Tanaka, Nanami Kitamura, Shu Ohba, Kiko Seike.
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