Japan 2-2 England

World Cup Finals 2007
Group A
1pm (8pm local time), Tuesday 11 September 2007
Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai

England were denied three points in their first game of the World Cup by two free kicks, one five minutes into stoppage time, as Kelly Smith had seemingly grabbed a crucial victory.

Aya Miyama struck in the 55th and 95th minutes, but the rest of the game was filled with chances for Hope Powell's side as they dominated Japan in the second match of Group A.

With Germany crushing Argentina, the encounter between England and Japan took on even greater significance as both sides looked to put three points on the board.

Despite creating all the opportunities Japan seemed to have somehow secured a win when Kelly Smith scored twice in two minutes to put England in the box seat, only for Japan to grab a very late equaliser.

England survived an early scare when a quick one-two on the edge of the area gave Eriko Arakawa a sight of goal, under pressure from Alex Scott the Japanese forward prodded the ball narrowly wide.

Kelly Smith created England's first real opening 15 minutes into the game, trading passes with Karen Carney on the right wing Smith quickly moved into the area and shaped an opportunity on her left foot. Despite dragging the ball just wide of the near post it was to mark a passage of play that would provide England with much heart.

Eniola Aluko was finding space in the channels and two minutes later tested Miho Fukumoto in the Japan goal. A low, driven attempt towards the bottom corner but Fukumoto was again untroubled.

Katie Chapman then fired a warning shot half an hour into the game, a second attempt at a long range half-volley Chapman went close and had the crowd on their feet.

Then with seven minutes to go until half time Eniola Aluko had a golden opportunity to give England the lead. Latching on to a delightful Kelly Smith flick, Aluko pounced as the onrushing Fukumoto failed to clear the ball but put her shot wide when the goal was gaping.

The Three Lions picked up where they left off in the second half, Fara Williams going through on goal only for Fukumoto to deny England once more. Kelly Smith twice found crossing opportunities that found Faye White and then Katie Chapman who saw her effort cleared off the line.

Just when Hope Powell's side seemed on top, Japan hit England with their second attempt on goal and took the lead. Katie Chapman was adjudged to have fouled Aya Miyama 25 yards from goal, and the Japanese midfielder stepped up and drove a swerving effort into the net.

It was tough on England but Kelly Smith nearly levelled the scores a minute later with a fantastic piece of play. Taking the ball down on her chest, Smith fooled the last defender and struck a fierce effort only for Yukari Kinga to dive from nowhere and prevent a certain goal.

The shots continued to rain in on the Japan goal, Smith and Aluko both going close but it seemed that they would not break down a stubborn Japanese defence. Just when Japan seemed to relax Kelly Smith turned the game on it's head with two expert finishes, grabbing a brace and putting the Three Lions ahead.

But with the last kick of the game, yet another controversial free kick from Aya Miyama, Japan tied the game and made Group A extremely interesting.

Teams:

Japan: 1 Miho Fukumoto, 2 Hiromi Isozaki (c), 3 Yukari Kinga (13 Kozue Ando 46), 7 Tomomi Miyamoto (6 Ayumi Hara 71), 8 Tomoe Sakai, 9 Eriko Arakawa, 10 Homare Sawa, 15 Azusa Iwashimizu, 16 Aya Miyama, 18 Shinobu Ohno, 20 Rumim Utsugi
Substitutes: 4 Kyoko Yano, Miyuki Yanagita, 11 Mio Otani, 12 Nozomi Yamago, 14 Nayuha Toyoda, 17 Yuki Nagasato, 19 Mizuha Sakaguchi, 21 Misaki Amano

Goals: Miyama 55, 90+5

Coach: Hiroshi Ohashi

England: 1 Rachel Brown, 2 Alex Scott (20 Lindsay Johnson 89), 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Katie Chapman, 5 Faye White (c), 6 Mary Phillip, 7 Karen Carney, 8 Fara Williams, 9 Eniola Aluko (16 Jill Scott 74), 10 Kelly Smith, 11 Rachel Yankey
Substitutes: 12 Anita Asante, 13 Siobhan Chamberlain, 14 Rachel Unitt, 15 Sue Smith, 17 Jody Handley, 18 Lianne Sanderson, 19 Vicky Exley, 21 Carly Telford

Goals: Smith 81, 83

Coach: Hope Powell