England hit six

Friday, 06 March, 2009

England Women's team steamroll South Africa in the Cyprus Cup.

England 6-0 South Africa
 Cyprus Cup
International Friendly Tournament
Thursday 5 March
Larnaca, Cyprus

 England got their Cyprus Cup campaign off to a fantastic start with an emphatic 6-0 dismissal of South Africa in Larnaca. Three goals in each half were enough to seal the victory as Hope Powell's side stepped up their preparations for Euro 2009.

Fara Williams, England's Captain for the day, gave the Three Lions an 18th minute lead, converting a Karen Carney free-kick after Jill Scott headed back across goal.

Chelsea's Lianne Sanderson doubled the lead barely a minute later directing an Alex Scott cross beyond Mukondi Mulaudzi.

Despite the continued pressure, England were made to wait until just before the break for their third. When America-bound Kelly Smith was put through down the channel, she calmly rounded Mulaudzi and passed the ball into the open goal from an acute angle.

Powell made three changes during the interval with Emily Westwood, Rachel Yankey and Katie Chapman coming on for the second half and the latter justified her appearance with a late double.

Her first - and England's fifth - was created by Yankey down the left flank. The substitute latched on to a long ball from Stephanie Houghton and sent in a delicious cross which Chapman slid in to prod over the line.

If her first was a tap-in, her second certainly was not as she unleashed a thunderous 25-yard drive to put a fine gloss on a dominant England performance.

Yankey and Houghton had earlier linked up to create England's fourth goal as the Leeds Carnegie midfielder headed home the Arsenal winger's corner.

Jess Clarke replaced Carney just after the hour mark to make her Senior debut as England cruised to a comfortable victory.

They now face France on in their second group match on Saturday.

For further information surrounding the tournament, please visit www.visitcyprus.com

England
1 Siobhan Chamberlain, 2 Alex Scot, 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Fara Williams (C), 5 Anita Asante, 6 Stephanie Houghton, 7 Karen Carney (22 Jess Clarke, 62), 8 Jill Scott (16 Katie Chapman, 46), 9 Lianne Sanderson (17 Eniola Aluko, 74), 10 Kelly Smith (15 Emily Westwood, 46 (19 Danni Buet, 72), 11 Sue Smith (20 Rachel Yankey, 46)

Goals
Williams 18, Sanderson 19, Smith 42, Houghton, Chapman 87, 90+1

South Africa
16 Mukondi Mulaudzi, 3 Simphiwe Dludlu, 2 Lena Mosebo, 5 Janine Van Wyk (Emily Magotlhe, 46), 13 Hlengiwe Ngwane, 14 Busisiwe Ndimeni, 8 Kylie-Ann Louw (C) (15 Chantelle Esau, 46), 12 Mpho Rammala, 18 Nompumelelo Nyandeni, 19 Sebata Molatelo (9 Amanda Dlamini), 11 Noko Matlou