England girls head for quarters
Thursday, 22 August, 2002
England girls have reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Canada after a tense
England 0-0 Australia
Group C, FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship
Centennial Stadium, Victoria, BC
Wednesday 21st August 02
England Under-19s have reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Canada after a tense wait on results from other Groups.
England's World Cup fate lay on a knife's edge at the end of a thrilling 0-0 draw in their final group game against Australia with the drawing of lots determining which side would join Group C winners USA in the quarter-finals.
Both sides had good chances in the dying minutes of the game and the players crowded at the final whistle waiting for the officials to make the draw - but it was the Aussies who were celebrating.
FIFA competition rules state that if two sides finish all level on points, goal difference, goals scored and the result between the two teams, then a draw of lots is made if a qualifying place is at stake. In this competition, the FIFA Under-19 World Championships, the top two teams in each of the three groups progress as well as the two best third-placed teams. With results in Group B going England's way, it meant England became the first third-placed team to qualify.
For the game, England were forced to change their back four due to Corinne Yorsten failing to recover from a sprained ankle ligament, sustained in the 4-0 win over Chinese Taipei. Michelle Hickmott and Faye Dunn were dropped from the flanks in favour of Alex Scott on the right and Kelly McDougall, who moved to the left to make way for Emily Westwood.
Australia were missing their captain Kate McShea, who was sent off in their previous match against USA for two bookable offences.
Australia had the better of England early on, putting them under pressure with Catherine Cannuli looking particularly lively down the left wing. Only one England player was able to match the Aussies physically - for height and strength - and that counted for a lot in the opening stages. Alex Scott was forced to come back to aid Leanne Champ in defence, and they managed to keep the Matildas down to one clearcut chance. On 16 minutes Cannuli got the better of Scott and squared the ball for Hayley Crawford, who sent her shot sailing over the bar from close range.
Australia should have made more of their opportunity on 25 minutes when England 'keeper Toni-Anne Wayne came racing out of her area to clear a ball on the right ahead of the on-running Selin Kuralay. Wayne actually kicked the player's foot and went down injured. With the ball still in play, the Aussies tried in vain to make the advantage count and England rallied to block the handful of goal-bound shots.
Ellen Maggs wasn't afforded the space she had in the previous two games, but she still managed to carve out two half chances before the half hour mark.
Despite Australia's attacking prowess, The Three Lions could have gone into the break in the lead after a brilliant move which saw Ellen Maggs send in a high pinpoint cross from the right wing onto the head of England's tallest player on the pitch Emily Westwood whose goalbound header was touched round the left post by 'keeper Luisa Marzotto.
England looked much brighter in the second half and took the game to Australia. It was Ellen Maggs again who had the better chances as England created more opportunities to the delight of the vociferous crowd. Maggs, the smallest player on the pitch, was left unmarked on 56 minutes but saw her header grazed the bar.
The introduction of the pacy 16-year-old Kim Holden for Katy Ward on 57 minutes added some extra pace up front and England looked increasingly exciting in attack. The Aussie 'keeper was forced to make a one-handed save off Maggs on 80 minutes.
The game then went from end to end in an exciting finale, bypassing an England midfeld missing the influence of injured Emily Westwood after 81 minutes. But the team continued to play their best 45 minutes of the tournament so far and wowed the crowd, containing hundreds adorned in England shirts, face paint and waving the St George's flag.
England were fortunate not to concede a late goal on 87 minutes when Aussie captain Thea Slatyer shot wide.
Not to be outdone, England raced forward on the counter-attack and Maggs was unlucky not to win a penalty in the final minute of the game when she was on the receiving end of two fouls, one after the other, in the penalty area. But the game was destined to remain goalless.
England (4-4-2): Toni-Anne Wayne, Leanne Champ, Jess Wright 9(c), Laura Bassett, Shelly Cox, Fara Williams, Kelly McDougall, Emily Westwood (sub 81 mins Michelle Hickmott), Katy Ward (sub 57 mins Kim Holden), Ellen Maggs, Alex Scott
Australia (3-4-1-2): Luisa Marzotto, Thea Slatyer (c), Emma Davison, Karla Reuter, Stacey Stocco (sub 79 mins Elissia Canham), Lana Harch, Amber Neilson, Caitlin Munoz, Catherine Cannuli, Hayley Crawford, Selin Kuralay (sub 72 mins Manya Makoski)