England - Denmark
ENGLAND 1 - DENMARK 2
England were cruelly beaten 2-1 at Ewood Park this evening after taking an early second half lead and they will now have to draw against Sweden in their final group match to qualify for the semi-finals stage of Euro 2005.
UEFA 2005 Women’s European Championships Match Report
Group A
Scorers Fara Williams, Merete PEdersen, C. Serensen
Played at Etwood Park Stadium, the Home of Blackburn Rovers FC
Attendame 14,695
Match Highlights
1 mins England have kicked off their second game at Euro 2005. A win here will guarantee Hope Powell’s side a place in the semi-finals of the competition. Best of luck girls from everyone here at femaleSOCCER.net!
5 mins Pederson is flattened by Katie Chapman in the penalty area! The referee waves play on, but that could well have been given. A nervous moment for England.
25 mins Come on England! Denmark are starting to get a little on top now and England must be careful.
26 mins The Danes go close! A free-kick from Rasmussen is met my Merete Pedersen, but England keeper Jo Fletcher pulls off a solid save.
38 mins A good chance for Amanda Barr, but it’s headed wide of goal. Some lovely play down the left by Yankey who floated the ball into the box and it fell invitingly into Barr’s path after her darting run down the middle. The England striker headed first time for goal, but probably had time to bring it down.
44 mins Oooh! So near for England! That would have been a great time to score just before half-time. Katie Chapman played a good ball into the box out from the right hand side. It eventually fell to Carney who weaved her way past the defender before tapping the ball out to her Birmingham City team mate Rachel Yankey, who attempted to curl it round the keeper with the outside of her left foot. It was a great chance and Yankey will probably be disappointed not to hit the target.
Half Time This is a evenly matched game, but England have finished the stronger and may be a little disappointed not to have the lead
50 mins Faye White, Mary Phillip, Alex Scott and Rachel Unitt have been very strong in defence so far. Let’s hope they can keep it up. They’re not giving the Danes any time on the ball.
51 mins Penalty To England! Yankey was brought down on the left of the penalty area by Knudsen and Hope Powell’s side have the chance to put one foot in the semi-finals! It was a clumsy challenge, but the Danes are furious with the decision.
52 mins GOAL IT’S 1-0 ENGLAND! Yes! Fara Williams holds her nerve and rolls the ball into the bottom left corner. England have a priceless lead.
54 mins What a save! So close again for England. It was so nearly 2-0. Yankey is tearing the Danes apart down the left hand side. Her ball into the box was played across goal by Carney, Barr ran over it and Williams well hit shot was turned away by the keeper.
60 mins Good effort from Exley! A long range shot from Vicky Exley is driven over the bar. England have come out all guns blazing this half.
70 mins It must be a goal?! No, what a miss! England should have doubled their lead there. A good cross from Yankey on the right found captain Faye White who looped it over the bar from just two yards out. She had to really stretch for the ball in all fairness.
75 mins Cederkvist saves from Aluko. The Charlton star has looked lively since coming on, but that was a tame effort.
79 mins GOAL 1-1! A superb right footed free-kick from the edge of the box curled in by Merete Pedersen. Jo Fletcher had no chance in goal. It was a controversial decision to award the free-kick after a high foot by Fara Williams.
83 mins That’s a bit close for comfort! Denmark substitute Christensen curls a shot wide form the edge of the box. The Danes are having a late surge here and England must stay strong.
87 mins GOAL NO! It’s 2-1 Denmark and disaster for England. This was a game they really needed to win. Sørensen heads it past Fletcher from just a few yards out. That’s dreadful defending from England, she was completely unmarked. Rasmussen attempted shot from the free-kick had ricocheted straight back to her and her cross into the box then found Sørensen all alone.
Full Time England’s eleven game unbeaten run has come to an end. They must beat Sweden in their next match to make it out of the group stage. After a great start to the second half, England gave two needless free-kicks away late on and they were made to pay.
England Team Jo Fletcher, Alex Scott, Rachel Unitt, Faye White, Mary Phillip, Katie Chapman, Fara Williams, Kelly Smith (Vicky Exley 45 mins), Amanda Barr (Eni Aluko 64 mins), Rachel Yankey, Karen Carney
Denmark Team Tine Cederkvist, Gitte Andersen, Bettina Falk, Mariann Knudsen, Katrine Pedersen, Anne Nielsen, Louise Hansen, N. Mølbach Johansen (Jensen 53 mins), C. Sørensen, Merete Pedersen, J. Rasmussen.
Player Of The Match Faye White – The England captain gave nothing away at the back and was unlucky not to score from close range. England may have lost, but for the majority of the game they were the better side.
Keep logging onto femaleSOCCER.net and euro2005.net for quotes and reaction to all the big England games.