Duggan strike ensures unbeaten campaign
Thursday, 24 September, 2009
Toni Duggan scored in England's 1-1 draw with Norway in Euro qualifiers.
England 1-1 Norway
UEFA European Women's U19 Championship
First Qualifying Round
7pm (BST), Thursday 24 September 2009
Spotland, Rochdale AFC
Click here for the First Qualifying Round fixtures and results
In their final game of their qualification campaign at this stage, England drew 1-1 with Norway in what was a game of two halves at Spotland.
Toni Duggan gave England the lead midway through the first-half but that effort was cancelled out nine minutes into the second half by Julie Adsero. Despite letting their lead slip, it was a display that Head Coach, Mo Marley, was delighted with.
“I am very pleased with the performance today, especially the first-half,” she said. “The passing and movement was very good and a joy to watch.
“Once they got their goal though we did panic but that is all about management of their games. Up until that point we were in total control.
“With the style of football we play we are always going to see a lot of the ball. They players know then that there is a responsibility to take our chances when we are around the box. There is a little bit of tidying up to do but overall I think they can be proud of themselves.”
It was the hosts who came out of the blocks the brighter. A mistake in the first four minutes by Eirin Kleppa allowed Duggan a strike on goal, but unfortunately she didn’t quite connect as well as she’d like with her shot and it never really troubled Guro Pettersen in the Norway goal.
Just short of the 20-minute mark, Lucy Staniforth did well to make a yard for herself towards the by-line before crossing for Laura Coombs but she shot wide under pressure from Kleppa.
England were persistent and were rewarded when they took the lead on 20 minutes with a fine strike from Duggan. The ball bounced up perfectly after a neat pass from Coombs and Duggan buried it past Pettersen.
Minutes later the Everton forward nearly punished the Norwegians again. The visitors allowed her to run at goal and when the angle opened up Duggan obliged with the shot but this time her strike strayed wide of the goal.
On 38 minutes Coombs carved out another good opportunity for the hosts. The England midfielder showed great skill to beat Cathrine Dekkerhusand then from 25-yards out tried her luck but agonisingly for her it struck the bar with Pettersen helpless in goal. However, nine minutes into the second-half Norway hit back. Else Vassbo’s long ball over the top of the England defence was notched onto by Aderso who was calm and collective before picking her spot.
On 67 minutes Adsero showed her striking potential once again. A fortunate interception fell to the path of Adsero who unleashed a thunderous strike that hit the inside of the bar but bounced on the wrong side of the bar from her perspective.
Both teams pressed in the final 20 minutes but there were some tired legs as three games in the space of six days took its toll on both teams. However, both Norway and England have progressed to the Elite Qualifying Round, just one step away from the UEFA European Women's U19 Championship.
EnglandRebecca Spencer, Lyndsey Cunningham, Gilly Flaherty, Abbie Prosser, Lucy Bronze, Gemma Bonner, Lucy Staniforth (Stephanie Marsh, 75), Jordan Nobbs, Toni Duggan, Laura Coombs, Lauren Bruton (Rebecca Jane, 68)
Substitutes not used Lauren Davey, Isoble Christiansen, Jessica Holbrook, Demi Stokes, Emma Follis
Head Coach Mo Marley
NorwayPettersen, Liane (Linde, 85), Kleppa, Sonstevold, Gausdal, Hegaland, Dekkerhus, Vassbo, Adsero (Utland, 68), Haavi (Skaug, 45), Christiensen
Substitutes not used Gjoen, Haugstoyl
Head Coach Jarl Torske
Referee Jana Adamkova (CZE)
Assistant Referees L. Ratajova (CZE) and E. Nuykina (RUS)
Fourth Official I. Tereshchenko
Goals Duggan (20), Adsero (54)