Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.20 2022-23

England 4 (Stanway pen 40, Kelly 46, Russo 50, James 78)
South Korea 0
England’s defence of the Arnold Clark Cup got off to the perfect start with a comfortable
4-0 victory over South Korea at Stadium MK.
After Belgium had beaten Italy in the opening game of the mini-tournament, it was
England’s turn to be in action and they were quickly into their stride, Lauren James firing
wide after being set up by Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone drilled wide from 20 yards.
South Korea hit back with Choo Hyo-Joo seeing a shot saved by Mary Earps but
England continued to press and Kim Jung-Mi needed to save from both Millie Bright and
Toone. James was looking sharp and she was just off target with a strike from close range,
as well as having another effort saved. Alessia Russo was to go even closer to opening the
scoring when she struck the woodwork.
Stanway headed a good chance over the bar but the pressure was to tell five minutes
before half time as James was brought down in the area by Jang Sei-Gi and a penalty was
awarded. Stanway stepped up to finish emphatically and put England in the lead.
England made a substitution at half time, bringing on Katie Zelem, and within 16
seconds of the restart, they were two ahead, Chloe Kelly finding the top corner from the
edge of the area.
Before South Korea could recover, Greenwood’s cross from the left picked out Russo
whose neat finish past Kim found the roof of the net to make it three.
The flurry of goals after the break had put England firmly in control and they sought
further goals with Kelly and Zelem driving shots wide and Stanway hitting the bar
following a corner.
With twelve minutes remaining, James got the goal her performance deserved on the
night with a powerful strike into the corner of the net, the Chelsea striker’s first goal for her
country.
It could have been more in the final ten minutes as Toone set up Laura Coombs to fire
a shot just wide and Lauren Hemp was off target with a header. Leah Williamson and
Toone both had efforts saved whilst Katie Robinson was inches away from a first
international goal when she hit the post from close range.
All in all it was just the start that England wanted to open up the tournament and they
occupy top spot in the table on goal difference. Next up for the European Champions is a
meeting with Italy at Coventry on Sunday, before finishing up against Belgium at a sold-out
Ashton Gate next Wednesday.
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood (sub Niamh Charles 64mins), Jess
Carter (sub Katie Zelem 45mins), Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Chloe Kelly (sub
Lauren Hemp 63mins), Georgia Stanway (sub Laura Coombs 67mins), Alessia Russo
(sub Rachel Daly 64mins), Ella Toone, Lauren James (sub Katie Robinson 81mins). Subs
not used: Sandy McIver, Jess Park, Ebony Salmon, Emma Roebuck, Lotte Wubben-Moy,
Maya Le Tissier, Jordan Nobbs, Emily Ramsey.
South Korea: Kim Jung-Mi, Kim Hye-Ri, Hony Hye-Ji (sub Chun Ga-Ram 86mins),
Lim Seon-Joo, Choo Hyo-Joo, Kim Yun-Ji (sub Park Ye-Eun 56mins), Lee Geum-Min,
Jang Sei-Gi, Kang Chae-Rim (sub Shim Seo-Yeon 57mins), Son Hwa-Yeon (sub Jang
Yu-Been 86mins), Choe Yu-Ri. Subs not used: Yoon Young-Geul, Kim Hye-Yeong, Park
Eun-Seon, Ji So-Yun, Jang Chang, Lee Jeong-Min, Ryu Ji-Soo, Ko Min-Jung, Lee Eun-
Young, Bae Ye-Bin, Kim Kyeong-Hee.
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