Monday, July 11, 2011
England 1-1 France (3-4 pens): Hope Powell's side crash out of World Cup at quarter-final stage after penalty defeat
England was knocked out of the women's World Cup at the quarterfinal stage against France as Faye White missed the decisive spot-kick as the game went to a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Jill Scott had given England the lead in the second half before Elise Bussaglia equalised late on and after neither side could grab the winner in extra time, White missed from the spot as France triumphed 4-3 on penalties.
England started the match strongly, with Kelly Smith rounding the French keeper, only to be denied by a block from defender Laura Georges.
France started to control the play thereafter, leading to a bad challenge by Faye Williams on Gaetane Thiney, who received a yellow card for the tackle on four minutes. France continued to dominate play, and only a superb block from Jill Scott denied a dangerous shot.
The French continued to dominate going forward, but England's defense stood strong. Thiney took a powerful shot from just inside the box, but England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was equal to it. France's attacking midfielder Necib struck a long-range shot on the half-hour that flew inches over the bar.
France started the second half well, with another attack, but Delie's shot went just wide. England then made a break up the left flank, with left back Rachel Unitt crossing in for Jill Scott to head just wide.
England attacked again, this time midfielder Rachel Yankey placing a through ball into Scott, who hit a well-placed shot over the French goalkeeper and into the back of the net on 59 minutes for 1-0.
France continue to keep possession, but England weas looking more confident after the goal. Steph Houghton and Claire Rafferty replaced Alex Scott and Rachel Unitt in defence for Hope Powell's side.
Thomis then sprinted past the substitute defenders and placed a shot straight at Bardsley. A second attack, however, was more fruitful as the ball was laid off to Bussaglia, who curled a shot from outside the box, onto the bar and in after 87 minutes.
Four minutes of added time saw France drive forward in search of a winner, but neither side was able to make the breakthrough as the game went into extra-time.
Bardsley was called into action first in extra time as she saved Thiney's shot before Carney forced Deville into making a save after 101 minutes.
England's Faye White than came close to grabbing the lead but her shot drifted just wide of the post as it remained 1-1 at halftime of extra time.
The French had the better of the chances in the second period although with the scores still level as the whistle blew for the end of extra time, penalties would settle the quarterfinal.
It would prove to be heartache for England as White missed her spot-kick in sudden death to see France through to the semi-finals of the competition. source: goal.com
