Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.14 2021-22

All-White for star striker Ellen

England 1 Austria 0
at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Ellen White marked her 100th cap by scoring the winning goal and maintaining their
100% record in Group D against a stubborn Austria side.
It was a fitting occasion for the striker - who, coincidentally made her debut
against the same opponents at Loftus Road back in 2010 and scored - as England were
on top for large periods of the game but they were also grateful to goalkeeper Mary
Earps for a crucial save midway through the second half.
The opening stages of the game were largely quiet as the game settled down with
Austria looking well organised at the back, well marshalled by impressive captain
Carina Wenninger, and apart from having to save an Alex Greenwood free kick,
goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger was largely untroubled, despite England having the
lion’s share of possession.
However five minutes before half time, the breakthrough came. Moments after
having a shot charged down, Fran Kirby picked a loose ball up and clipped across the
area to the far post, where White reacted quickest and nipped in to slot home from close
range for her 45th international goal, putting her one behind record holder Kelly Smith.
Lauren Hemp nearly made it two a couple of minutes later but was denied by
Zinsberger, who also needed to make saves from Kirby and White as England finished
the half strongly but had to settle for a one-goal lead at the interval.
The first effort of the second half went to Austria with Barbara Dunst forcing a
save from Earps, who also made a block from Maria Plattner.
The visitors continued to look dangerous at this stage and on the hour, they had
a glorious chance to level the scores when Sarah Puntigam sent Dunst clear on goal but
Earps was able to make a crucial save, palming away the midfielder’s effort.
This seemed to spark England back into life with Beth Mead having a shot saved
by Zinsberger and Rachel Daly almost forced the ball home from a goalmouth scramble
following a corner, but the Austrian defence managed to bundle the ball away.
England continued to look the more likely to score in the later stages but were
unable to add to their lead. White had a shot deflected wide and Zinsberger saved from
Daly, but England were to have no further problems and they saw the game out for a
hard earned victory.
England: Mary Earps, Rachel Daly, Demi Stokes (sub Jess Carter 90mins), Keira
Walsh, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright, Beth Mead (sub Nikita Parris 70mins), Fran
Kirby, Ellen White, Ella Toone (sub Georgia Stanway 63mins), Lauren Hemp. Subs
not used: Niamh Charles, Sandy MacIver, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jordan Nobbs, Beth
England, Jill Scott, Hannah Hampton, Alessia Russo, Katie Zelem.
Austria: Manuela Zinsberger, Katharina Naschenweng (sub Katja Wienerroither
59mins), Maria Plattner (sub Marie Therese Höbinger 89mins), Carina Wenninger,
Barbara Dunst, Sarah Zadrazil, Laura Wienroither, Virginia Kirchberger, Nicole
Billa (sub Stafanie Enzinger 87mins), Sarah Puntigam, Verena Hanshaw. Subs not
used: Sabrina Horvat, Lainie Fuchs, Katharina Schiechtl, Lena Triendl, Marina
Georgieva, Jasmin Eder, Annabel Schasching, Mariella El Sherif, Jasmin Pal.
Issue no. 14 - 2 December 2021 womenssoccerscene@mail.com