England 4-0 Chinese Taipei

Group C, FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship
Centennial Stadium, Victoria, BC
Monday 19th August 02

England put their hopes of reaching the last eight at the FIFA Under-19 World Championship Finals back on track on Monday evening with a 4-0 thrashing of Chinese Taipei.

England now have three points from two games and go into their final Group C match against Australia in Victoria, Canada, full of confidence after a thrilling display which had the local crowd on the edge of their seats.

Ellen Maggs was once again the joy of the crowd, setting up a goal and scoring one herself as she netted the Player Of The Match nominations from the press.

"We came here to get a victory, then when we went 2-0 up we knew it was all about scoring goals. We needed to get ourselves a better goal difference to make sure we have a good chance of qualifying.

"It was a good game to play in and I enjoyed it because I got much more of the ball than I did against the US. Now we're thinking about the Australia game. Sure, there'll be nerves from the girls but we know what we have to do - we have to go out and perform our best." 

Coach Mo Marley made one change to the starting line-up, replacing right winger Alex Scott for forward Faye Dunn of Tranmere Rovers. England, wearing all white, started the game well and had some early pressure. Maggs, had she not have been too honest, could have earned a penalty within the first ten minutes but she stayed on her feet after being fouled in the area.

Fara Williams had a good chance with the looseball but sent her long-range shot wide of the left post. Maggs made it 1-0 on 19 minutes when she turned on a Leanne Champ throw-on in the area and slid the ball under the 'keeper's body at a tight angle. It was a superb goal and nothing more than England deserved.

It was Southampton Saints goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne who turned on the style just four minutes later, denying Mei Fen Lan by flying across her goal to push over a goalbound shot with her right hand.

England were two nil up after 26 minutes, when, after a neat one-two with Maggs, Champ sent a cross teasingly across the front of goal for the third in-running England player, Michelle Hickmott, to score.

It could have been more too; Maggs made two spectacular assists - a cross for Katy Ward who shot wide of the post from close range and later releasing Williams, who shot over the advancing 'keeper, but also just over the bar.

Chinese Taipei played the offside rule well, which kept England from going into the break with a far bigger lead. But the Three Lions weren't content with just a 2-0 lead and substitute Emily Westwood of Wolves, made an immediate impact when sending a throughball for Katy Ward to run on to and sidefoot past the 'keeper on 47 minutes.

Mo Marley's side had chances after that, with Williams sending a free-kick just over the bar and on 60 minutes Ward hit the crossbar with a lob. The pace of the game slowed and Marley brought on two substitutes, 17-year-olds Sheuneen Ta, to win her fourth cap, and Anita Asante, making her debut.

Ward added her second, and England's fourth, when she challenged the 'keeper for a ball in the area and it dribbled into the net on 85 minutes. England continued to dominate and had several long-range efforts in the dying minutes of the game, but couldn't add to their goal tally.

From Bev Ward in Victoria

England (4-4-2): Toni-Anne Wayne, Leanne Champ, Jess Wright (c) (sub 81 mins Anita Asante), Laura Bassett, Corinne Yorsten, Fara Williams, Kelly McDougall (sub 46 mins Emily Westwood), Michelle Hickmott, Katy Ward, Ellen Maggs, Faye Dunn (sub 76 mins Sheuneen Ta)

Goals: Maggs 19, Hickmott 26, Ward 47, 85

Chinese Taipei (3-4-3): Feng Chiu Huang, Pei Wen Yu, Pei Chen Pan, Hsueh Hua Lee, Hui Chih Chang, Mei Fen Lan, Shu O Tseng, Yen Ling Lu (sub 82 mins Hsin Yun Tsai), Li Chen Tsai (sub 46 mins Hui Mei Lu), Chia Feng Lin, Yu Ting Wang