USA v England: Women's World Cup Quarter Final 2007

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Womens 2007 World Cup; match 26

Quarter Final, 22/9/07 in Tianjin.

U.S.A. v. England

USA: H.Solo, C.Rampone, C.Whitehill, K.Markgraf, S.Lopez, S.Boxx (C.Lloyd 82), L.Osborne, L.Chalupny, H.O'Reilly, A.Wambach (N.Kai 86), K.Lilly.

England: R.Brown, M.Phillip (L.Sanderson 80), F.White, A.Asante, C.Stoney, K.Chapman, J.Scott, K.Smith, A.Scott, E.Aluko (R.Yankey 45), K.Carney.

Match Report: The early stages of this match showed that England were on a predominantly, if not wholly, defensive mission as they sat deep and looked to absorb pressure. In the opening ten minutes there wasn't really any pressure to absorb but the team refused to show any adventure and the pattern was set.

Theoretically England had picked an attacking team with three forwards and Kelly Smith operating from midfield but the reality was very different. The gameplan was definitely one of containment.

The Americans did not look unduly threatening despite being invited to attack. It was ten minutes before Rachel Brown was called into action and when she was she came out well to claim at feet.

It was almost ten minutes later before the next action of note and this was Kelly Smith finding a yard of space before sliding a fine ball through to Eni Aluko inside the area. Aluko had a yard of space but froze and the chance was lost.

England were the next to threaten again when Karen Carney sent in a great inswinging ball from the left which Jill Scott met with a long leg just ahead of the keeper Hope Solo who blocked the effort as she flew out.

The ball ran loose and there was carnage inside the box but an offside flag was raised in any case, erroneously as it proved.

England looked capable of seizing the initiative at this point but never had the belief to do so.

America regained control and Brown was lucky to escape when she spilled a routine cross and no-one was there to pounce.

Katie Chapman poked a corner away at the far post after the ball had travelled right across the six yard box and England's defending became less secure as the half neared an end.

Stephanie Lopez was allowed the freedom of the left wing to send in a telling centre from near the corner flag and Abby Wambach should have scored rather than clear the bar from inside the six yard box.

Then England switched off at a corner and left Kristine Lilly free on the edge of the box but her shot was wide of the near post.

Faye White lifted spirits by clobbering Wambach near the touchline having earlier been elbowed in the face by the same player but the last ten minutes of the half had served as a warning to England.

Half Time: USA 0 England 0

Hope Powell made a somewhat surprising change at half time by bringing Rachel Yankey on for Eni Aluko. This meant, despite having three forwards on the pitch, England were now without a centre forward.

Whatever the thinking was behind this move it became irrelevent as America started the half strongly and swept into a three goal lead.

Having won a second corner in quick succession Lilly swung a ball deep to the far post where Wambach arrived unmarked to head home from close range. If we're pointing fingers Kelly Smith was the player who had left her.

England managed a couple of tentative attacks as they looked to respond with Jill Scott just beaten to a super centre from her namesake Alex and then Carney threw herself at a Yankey centre but got the contact all wrong.

When America came forward again, however, they more or less wrapped things up with a goal that England will want to forget. Both Kelly Smith and Jill Scott lost possession inside their own half which allowed Shannon Boxx to come forward and send in a shot from 25 yards that Brown got a hand on but could not keep out.

Before anyone could get their heads round this one Brown had come to the edge of her box to collect a punt forward from deep and was caught out by the bounce allowing Lilly the easiest of finishes.

Basically the rest of the game was irrelevent, especially as Hope Powell continued without a centre forward until ten minutes from time.

Boxx headed over from a corner for the States while Carney sent in a dangerous free kick that Solo knocked out into her area but there was no-one there to take advantage.

Rachel Brown spilled a shot from Lilly and was lucky not to suffer further embarrassment and then took an age over clearing a back pass allowing Wambach to charge down her kick. Fortunately the ball bounced wide of the gaping goal.

England finished the game on the front foot. Whether this was due to the belated introduction of Lianne Sanderson or simply America relaxing we will never know, probably the latter to be honest, but England certainly looked better balanced with a forward with some physical presence on the field.

Both Jill and Alex Scott produced crafty back heels in one attack and were unlucky not to release Kelly Smith inside the area and Smith then sent a dipping shot over the crossbar from just outside the area.

Rachel Yankey shot straight at the keeper from 20 yards and Carney, England's best attacker, sent in a wicked ball to the near post that was well defended at the expense of a corner.

All in all though England could not really claim to have given this quarter final a real go and while they have done well to reach this stage this will remain forever an opportunity waived.

Full Time: USA 3 England 0

England: R.Brown 3, M.Phillip 4 (L.Sanderson 6), F.White 6, A.Asante 8, C.Stoney 6, K.Chapman 4, J.Scott 6, K.Smith 5, A.Scott 5, E.Aluko 5 (R.Yankey 4), K.Carney 7.

Star Player: Anita Asante

Never really got caught out defensively and ended the game showing what might have been with some purposeful runs out of defence.
Unfortunately neither she nor any of her attacking colleagues showed such confidence while the game was still up for grabs.

Did you watch the game?
Then let us have your verdict on England's exit from the World Cup at the hands of the World Cup favourites USA.

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