England 1 -  Iceland 0
Amanda Barr, 86  

FIFA 2003 World Cup Qualifying Play-off Semi-Final 2nd leg
3pm, Sunday 22nd September 2002
St Andrews, Birmingham

A late strike from Amanda Barr settled this play-off clash and kept England's World Cup hopes alive in a result that should have been secured much earlier.

The Charlton striker, who failed to connect properly to a glorious first half chance, made amends in the closing moments to the delight of the St Andrews crowd and the rest of the England team.

England came out fighting in the sunny Birmingham afternoon and dominated Iceland for much of the first half, but the thoughts of what might have been from Barr and Karen Burke were digested with the cups of tea at the break, as England should have enjoyed a commanding lead. But in the end, Hope Powell's side progressed to the play-off final, and a meeting with France, with a deserved victory.

Fulham winger Rachel Yankey began posing early questions to the Icelandic defence with her quick feet and close ball control, and in the opening minute almost found space in the box, but the through ball was too strong and rolled out for a goal kick.

Knowing a clean sheet would be enough to see them through, the Three Lion's side, captained for the first time by Faye White, looked desperate to give the crowd goals and themselves a convincing passage to the next stage.

However, on six minutes England's desire for goals almost turned into a must as Olga Faerseth, a scorer in the first leg, latched onto a deflected pass from Asthildur Helgadottir and was left with only Cope to beat. But the small number three took an age to pull the trigger allowing Rachel Unitt to intervene and smash the ball to safety.

Save for another Faerseth break two minutes later, outstripping Mary Phillip for pace before collapsing in to a heap on the grass, England controlled the first half with good movement and ball retention and should have found the net on more than one occasion, with Yankey the regular architect and Sammy Britton driving forward from the middle.

A Britton looping ball towards Barr was controlled well first time by the Charlton forward, but her shot was just off target. Then on ten minutes, the first of two golden chances came her way. Vicky Exley played an inch-perfect ball for Karen Burke in to the box and her first time daisy-cutting cross beat the keeper and was met by a sliding Barr who nudged toward the empty goal, but the lack of power gave Thora Helgadottir, the away side's number one, chance to recover and clear from the line.

Though the advantage should have already been gained, England didn't dwell and continued to play the ball around probing for an opening, a long Unitt cross from the left swayed goal-ward, but was not to be a Ronaldinho and then Burke delivered her own one in from the opposite side but only the top of the net shook.

Then on 34 minutes it was golden chance number two: Where Burke failed from distance she should have found joy from 25 yards closer. Yankey beat her marker on the left and lashed a dangerous ball in to the box. Barr failed to connect at the near post, but Burke had no such problem as she joined in at the back stick, but her rifled shot from five yards out smashed the crossbar and Iceland could breathe again.

In the closing stages of the first half, the visitors enjoyed a little more possession, but could only offer hopeful balls into the box that caused little concern for England.

With the change around of ends came the turn of the tide, England's earlier rhythm was now with Iceland as they came hunting for what they needed to knock England out.

The imposing figure of Helgadottir in the middle of the park unsettled England's duo of Exley and Britton and their passing began to suffer. Rachel Yankey was the main outlet for pressure relief and was regularly up-ended by the physical Icelandics.

The added possession was accompanied by more chances for Iceland, Erla Hendrixsdottir enjoyed two shots from range, but not the outcome of either, and a Laufey Olafsdottir volley from 18 yards tested Pauline Cope as the Charlton keeper could only parry, then moments later she found space inside the box but another last-ditch tackle from local girl, Rachel Unitt, snuffed out the danger.

England remained on the back foot for sometime, but the strong tackling of skipper White foiled the waves of Iceland attacks and England were gradually able to work their way back into the game.

With ten minutes left on the clock an isolated Barr collected the ball in the right hand corner. Then the cavalry arrived as Barr slipped the ball to substitute Kristy Moore who crossed for Jody Handley on the edge of the box. With her back to goal, the Doncaster Belle was given time to turn and fire in a 15 yard effort that Iceland could only stop and stare at as it beat Helgadottir, but not the upright.

Three minutes later, Barr was released again down the right, this time in the clear as she cut into the box for a one on one with the stopper, but Barr's low shot across her rival was deflected wide with a leg and out for a corner.

However, Barr's reward for her running was soon to come. A hopeful ball from Faye White was dealt with well by the chest of Jody Handley opening up space for a strike. Her effort deflected away, but dropped kindly for Barr six yards out who made no mistake in prodding the ball over the line to secure England's place in the play-off final.

Iceland almost grabbed an equaliser a minute later, but Gudlaug Jonsdottir's volley from range was just too high and, though it should have been more, England's one goal proved to be enough.

Jamie Bradbury at St Andrews

Teams

England Iceland
1 Pauline Cope 1 Thora Helgadottir
2 Casey Stoney 2 Laufey Olafsdottir
3 Rachel Unitt 3 Olga Faerseth 
4 Samantha Britton (Fara Williams, 69) 4 Edda Gardarsdottir
5 Faye White (c) 5 Elin Thorsteinsdottir 
6 Mary Phillip 6 Asthildur Helgadottir 
7 Karen Burke (Kristy Moore, 45) 7 Margret Olafsdottir 
8 Vicky Exley 8 Erla Hendrixsdottir 
9 Jody Handley 9 Gudlaug Jonsdottir 
10 Amanda Barr 10 Raso Steinthorsdottir 
11 Rachel Yankey (Sue Smith, 80) 11 Katrin Jonsdottir 
Subs Subs
12 Fara Williams 12 Maria Agustsdottir 
13 Rachel Brown 13 Gudrun Gunnarsdottir 
14 Kristy Moore 14 Asgerdur Ingibergsdottir 
15 Sue Smith 15 Eva Gudbjornsdottir 
16 Carly Hunt 16 Asdis Thorgilsdottir
17 Una Nwajei
18 Kirsty Pealling  
 
Referee: Ingrid Jonsson, Sweden

Links
BARR STRIKE MELTS ICELAND
22 September 2002