England labour to opening win over Haiti thanks to Georgia Stanway penalty – Soccer News

Georgia Stanway’s retaken first-half penalty was sufficient to earn England a nervy 1-0 victory over World Cup debutants Haiti of their Group D opener at Brisbane Stadium.

This was not the decisive victory most had predicted for the European champions and world’s number-four facet towards a crew 49 locations under them within the FIFA rankings.

Haiti got here near levelling greater than as soon as, together with a late second-half probability denied on the final by Mary Earps’ outstretched foot.

Job carried out

Three factors from our first #FIFAWWC fixture! pic.twitter.com/qKHB0cKCpU

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2023

Whereas the Lionesses finally walked away with all three factors, it was an underwhelming efficiency that may go away boss Sarina Wiegman with loads of questions forward of Friday’s assembly with Denmark.

England followers had been out in full drive forward of kick-off within the Queensland capital, the place ‘Soccer’s Coming Residence’ may very well be heard from a riverside rally and ex-Arsenal ahead Ian Wright posed in a Lotte Wubben-Moy shirt beneath Story Bridge.

For a lot of the build-up of this event, the dialog across the Lionesses centred on their ongoing dispute with the Soccer Affiliation over bonus funds and different business points.

On a transparent Thursday evening, England needed their soccer to do the speaking, but it was Haiti who loved the primary spell of assault, successful an early nook earlier than Chloe Kelly, the hero in final summer season’s Euro 2022 remaining, examined Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus with a curled effort.

One of many greatest dilemmas for Wiegman forward of this event was who she would entrust as her quantity 9 and – for this opener not less than – it was Alessia Russo who led the England assault and rolled an early effort at Theus.

England followers, who by the noise contained in the stadium comprised nearly all of these in attendance, felt their hearts leap to their throats when Roselord Borgella broke free and was one-on-one with Earps however rolled her effort previous the far put up.

The Lionesses thought that they had gained a least a penalty when Dayana Pierre-Louis clattered into Kelly on the byline and appeared to clip her knee with a stud, however the Haitian midfielder acquired away with only a yellow card after it was decided – following a prolonged VAR test – that Russo had dedicated a foul within the build-up.

Quickly after that call, nonetheless, Batcheba Louis was punished for a handball and Stanway stepped as much as the spot.

Theus sparked a jubilant Haitian celebration when she saved Stanway’s first effort, however VAR once more intervened and Venezuelan referee Emikar Calderas dominated the keeper had encroached and the penalty was retaken.

Stanway didn’t make the identical mistake twice as she fired low into the left nook for what felt like an uneasy lead on the finish of a stop-start first half.

Melchie Dumornay, the 19-year-old midfielder sure for Lyon after this event, pressured Earps right into a leaping save shortly after the restart earlier than Russo was twice denied in fast succession.

Chelsea’s Lauren James made her World Cup debut after changing Hemp, simply forward of one other nervy second for England when Dumornay discovered Haiti skipper Nerilia Mondesir in loads of area earlier than Jess Carter recovered the ball.

James tried to get one thing began by delivering a cross to Russo, who got here shut however noticed her try tipped over the crossbar, earlier than Vivid skied an effort and Theus picked crosses from Alex Greenwood and James out of the air.

On got here Rachel Daly for Russo within the 76th minute as Haiti pushed for an equaliser, which practically got here by way of Roseline Eloissaint however for the outstretched foot of Earps to disclaim the substitute from 18 yards out.

Carter’s well-timed problem broke up one other Haiti run into the Lionesses’ remaining third, with Earps in a position to punch away the ensuing nook.

The possibilities got here for the Lionesses to double their benefit however by no means the of completion as England completed with the outcome, however in all probability not the efficiency, they needed.