Taylor and Kirby edge England towards quarters

Jodie Taylor scored her fourth goal in two games at the Women's European Championship as England closed in on the quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Spain.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Jul 2017, 23:48 BST
Updated 11th Sep 2017, 12:13 BST
England's Jodie Taylor scores her side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Euro 2017, Group D match at the Rat Verlegh Stadium, Breda.England's Jodie Taylor scores her side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Euro 2017, Group D match at the Rat Verlegh Stadium, Breda.
England's Jodie Taylor scores her side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Euro 2017, Group D match at the Rat Verlegh Stadium, Breda.

Arsenal striker Taylor fired in a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 6-0 thrashing of Scotland in England’s Group D opener, and sealed a hard-fought win for the Lionesses with another in rain-soaked Breda after Fran Kirby had given Mark Sampson’s side an early lead.

England were made to work harder than anticipated against technically gifted opponents and ran themselves to a standstill after Kirby had ensured a dream start.

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They were also fortunate to benefit from some strange refereeing by Italian referee Carina Vitulano in the 75th minute when she changed her mind after appearing to award Spain a penalty for handball.

Fran KirbyFran Kirby
Fran Kirby

England, third favourites for the tournament and unchanged from the side which battered the Scots, were given a let-off in the opening exchanges.

Skipper and central defender Steph Houghton’s penalty-area slip let in Vicky Losada, but the Spain midfielder failed to hit the target and England made them pay by taking the lead in the second minute.

Birmingham forward Ellen White’s slide-rule pass dissected Spain’s defence and Kirby kept her composure as she raced clear into the penalty area to side-foot the ball inside the near post.

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England’s fitness levels were truly tested as they chased and harried tirelessly, but Spain, who beat Portugal 2-0 in their opening match, continued their mastery of possession.

Fran KirbyFran Kirby
Fran Kirby

Spain probed and teased, but could not break down England’s well-disciplined defence.

England were given another big let-off in the 75th minute when referee Vitulano appeared to point to the penalty spot only to change her mind after White had slipped and inadvertently handled the ball.

Instead of handing the ball to Spain for the spot-kick, Vituano gave it to England goalkeeper Bardsley – to the fury of the Spanish bench. England took full advantage to finish strongly and, when the ball broke for Taylor in the area with five minutes to go, the striker clinically clipped the ball home to ensure victory.

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Related topics:SpainEnglandArsenalScotland