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 Women's World Cup Qualifying Games | ||
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Women's World Cup Qualifying Games | ||
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May 7,1998
Italy 1 Finland 0 In Eufa Wwcup '99 In Cagliari, Sardenia.
Sergio Vatta's Italy won today 1-0 against Finland in Cagliari, Sardenia, in a qualifying match for the World Cup and the Olympics. The match was played in front of approximately 3,000 people. Italy,s goal was scored at the 15th minute of the 2nd half on a penalty kick by Italy,s captain Antonella Carta (109 caps and 26th goal with the national team). Italy,s Zorri was pushed from behind in the Finn penalty area by Loumalathi (who was also yellow carded)This now puts Italy at 10 points in 4 games followed by France with 8 points in 5 games. Finland is stopped at 4 points in 3 games and Switzerland is at 0 points in 4 games.
| ITALY | FINLAND
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| Referee: Kandare (Slovenia) | |
April 7,1998
England 0 Germany 1 In Eufa WWCUP '99 Qualifier
| ENGLAND | GERMANY |
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Shirts:White Shorts:Blue
Coach: Ted Copeland Goals: None
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Shirts:Green Shorts:White
Coach: Tina Theune-Meyer
Goals: S. Smisek (31 Min)
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Referee: E. Odlund (Swe)
Assistant: L. Larsson (Swe) Reserve Assistant: A. Lundkvist (Swe) |
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Game Report
As soon as England came out of the UEFA 'hat' with Norway and Germany, who seem to always be in the same group, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for us to be in the top two, along with Holland.In the second match between the two teams in the UEFA qualifying rounds, to try and reach the 3rd FIFA World Cup Finals in 1999, it was a much better performance by England than recent games, but the 1-0 defeat means that at least two wins will be required in the last 3 matches.
In the match in Dessau, in September, Germany won 3-0 and went to the top of the table by beating Norway, 1-0.
This match at Millwall FC in South East London, in cold and then wet conditions, was much closer than many would have predicted, despite the introduction of players with just a few 'caps'.
The first chance of the match went to Germany in the 5th minute, when a free kick on the left, taken by Melanie Hoffman, whisked across the goal area and Maureen Marley just flicked the ball away from an opponent producing a corner on the right. The ball was cleared by Kelly Smith, (returning to the team after a 6 month spell at Seton Hall University in the USA). Her long forward pass was then cleared by Kerstin Stegemann. Soon after, England won a free kick 30 metres from goal, but a low shot by Gillian Coultard (winning cap No. 104) hit Sam Britton and the ball was cleared. This gave Susan Smith a chance of a return shot which was saved by Claudia von Lanken, who had to replace the injured first choice German keeper, Silke Rottenburg.
In the 11th minute Hope Powell tested the German keeper with a superb looping shot from 30 metres, which had to be pushed over the bar, producing an England corner on the left. The ball was swung in by Karen Burke, but was headed away by Ariane Hingst and then Melanie Hoffman. Hope Powell collected the clearance and fed it to Susan Smith on the left, but her long cross went directly to Claudia von Lanken.
Germany then put together a great move involving six players, with a cross to the near post by Kerstin Stegemann. Rachael Brown just managed to hold on to the ball as the speedy Sandra Smisek move in to try and head it. England resonded with a quick break, Gillian Coultard playing the ball to Susan Smith on the left, but her cross went beyond the far post, and was cleared for an England throw by Stefanie Gottschlich. After a couple of crosses into the German penalty area, Steffi Jones started a move which could have led to the first goal. A pass by Doris Fitschen and then the German sweeper put captain Martina Voss clear on goal, but she hit the shot badly and Rachael Brown had a comfortable save.
Then England were caught in possession, close to the edge of the penalty area, but in typical fashion, Gillian Coultard cleared the danger allowing Kelly Smith to pass the ball forward, from right to left, but this one was over-hit and the German keeper collected it before Susan Smith could reach it.
In the 23rd minute, Germany won a corner on the left, taken by Melanie Hoffman, but this was only partially cleared as Birgit Prinz took the ball close to the goal line on the right. Fortunately for the home team, the cross just eluded the run of Martina Voss and Sandra Smisek, and Danielle Murphy cleared the danger. A couple of minutes later, England were forced to make a change, when Kerry Davis limped off with an ankle injury and was replaced by Becky Easton.
Germany then won a corner on the right taken by Kerstin Stegemann, but a header by Doris Fitschen was cleared. Soon after, Birgit Prinz made another strong run and her cross was deflected off an English defender and Rachael Brown had to dive smartly to her left to collect the ball. Birgit Prinz was becoming a real danger to the English defence, as a low and powerful shot from the right was well held by the young England keeper.
Just before the half hour mark, Kelly Smith managed to get enough space for a shot at goal, but the ball went just past the right post. Within a minute, Germany produced the winning goal, Birgit Prinz heading towards goal on an inside left channel, outpacing Maureen Marley and as Sam Britton came across to challenge, the German forward slipped the ball into the middle. SANDRA SMISEK had moved inside and was clear, and from just inside the penalty area hit a rising shot, which slipped off the gloves of Rachael Brown, the ball looping into the right corner of the net.
The next attack was again by Germany, with Martina Voss breaking clear on the right, but in the slippery conditions the ball was sliced behind the goal. A mid-field stalemate then followed, when one player from each side was shown a yellow card by Swedish referee, Eva Odlund. The goalscorer, Sandra Smisek for a tackle from behind on Becky Easton and then Karen Burke for a late challenge on Steffi Jones.
Just before the half time whistle, Kelly Smith made one of her skilful runs, beating Melanie Hoffmann on the right and then out pacing Steffi Jones, getting to the goal line and cutting the ball back for the only player in support, Hope Powell, but Claudia von Lanken moved out to collect the cross.
Both teams made changes at the start of the second half, Melanie Garside coming on to replace Maureen Marley and for Germany, Stephanie Gottschlich replaced by Renate Lingor. The early stages were closely contested but then Sam Britton had to make a strong tackle on the Birgit Prinz just as she approached the left corner of the goal area, with the ball going safely to Rachael Brown. In the 53rd minute, the ball reached Melanie Hoffmann just outside the penalty area, and completely free, but her strong rising shot was brilliantly pushed away by the young England keeper for a corner on the right.
The ball was sent over by a Kerstin Stegemann for a Doris Fitschen header, but Rachel Brown made a comfortable high catch. England replied with a free kick on the right, after Karen Burke was fouled by Renate Lingor. Kelly Smith swung the ball over to the far post, but it was just too high for Faye White. Then Ariane Hingst broke clear on the left but her low shot went just wide of the left post. This was followed by an excellent shot on the turn by Birgit Prinz, which was well saved by Rachael Brown.
On the hour mark, Germany decided to take off Sandra Smisek, who was replaced by Monica Meyer. Then England won a corner on the left, but it was poorly struck with the ball going out of play. A couple of minutes later, Kelly Smith again tried a solo effort but the ball flashed past the right post. A useful performance by 17 year old Danielle Murphy, playing on home turf, was spoilt when she was cautioned for a tackle on the elegant Steffi Jones.
The play was now very open and Rachael Brown had to save a cross from the right by Doris Fitschen. A couple of minutes later, Kelly Smith made another strong run, but Steffi Jones moved across to clear the danger. In the 72nd minute, Karen Burke then put over a good cross which was cleared away for an England throw. Moments later, Rachael Brown had a scary moment when she failed to hold a shot as Birgit Prinz approached, but she redeemed herself when she pushed out and held the cross from the right. Then the young keeper kept England in the game, as she moved to the edge of her penalty area, to dive down at the feet of Martina Voss to deny the German captain a shot at goal.
England responded with a long through ball which was collected by Claudia von Lanken. This was followed by a cross from the right which was so strong that when Melanie Garside headed it, the ball flew high and wide of a target.
In the 79th minute, England were awarded a free kick on the right, but the ball was cleared. The play quickly moved to the other end, where Monica Meyer passed it to Ariane Hingst and the cut back from the goal line gave Birgit Prinz a great chance to increase the lead, but from close to the penalty spot, she skied the ball over the bar. A couple of minutes later, England took off Hope Powell to be replaced by Claire Utley, making only her second appearance, and she was expected to mark Doris Fitschen. Melanie Garside, also making her 2nd appearance then tried a speculative shot from the left which went well wide of the right post. Germany then made another change, Ariane Hingst going off, to be replaced by Inka Grings. Then they won a corner on the left, taken by Melanie Hoffman, but Gillian Coultard was in position to head the ball clear. A couple of minutes later, Melanie Hoffmann tried a shot from 25 metres which was well held by Rachel Brown.
England replied with another Kelly Smith run, but the US based student was looking tired as Steffi Jones moved across to make the clearance. The ball went to the other end, with Monica Meyer making a strong run into the penalty area from the right. Under pressure from the England captain, the German substitute shot tamely and Rachael Brown collected the ball after touching with it with her foot.
A minute before the final whistle, England created a good chance to equalise, with a good run by Gillian Coultard, and a pass by Karen Burke, but from just outside the penalty area, Danielle Murphy hit a low shot directly at Claudia van Lanken.
So with three points from three games and two matches against world champions, Norway to come plus a trip to Holland, the task for England is just as tough as expected.
After 5 matches, Germany remain top of Group 3 with a recent 2-1 win over Holland, with 12 points. All the other teams have 3 points.
The next match is on April 18th, when Norway visit Holland.
Scorers:
Report By Ingibjörg
This was a game where Sweden ruled from the beginning. Iceland came in strong every now and then but not strong enough to disturb the Swedish team in any way. The best goal of the game was the goal from Ottarsdottir when she scored with a good left foot shot from the box in the far corner of the goal.Iceland will play its second match in the group next saturday against Ukraina in Reykjavik.
This was the 10th meeting between these two nations, with the away team having the edge, and despite dominating much of the play, World Champions Norway had to settle for a draw against a stubborn defensive performance by Holland. The Dutch now move above England in the group table to third place with 4 points, while Norway stay in 2nd place, also with 4 points. European Champions, Germany have 12 points from 5 games, and need a point from their final game in Norway to be confirmed as group winners, and automatic qualification for the World Cup Finals in the USA.In the first half, on a cool evening in the south-east corner of Holland, Norway had 4 great chances to take the lead, but twice the target was missed, by Hege Riise and Margunn Haugenes. Twice veteran keeper, Marleen Wissink made great saves, to stop a Marieanne Pettersen shot and a header from Ann Kristin Aarones. A clumsy challenge on Hege Riise in the area might have produced a penalty, but the referee did not look interested in muted appeals. Holland only looked to create serious chances through Miranda Noom, who had to go off after she stumbled while getting a shot on target, after 27 minutes.
In the second half, the chances dried up for Norway as captain, Ann Kristen Aarones limped off in the 70th minute, who had mostly been the target for crosses and high forward passes, which she usually nodded on. Marieanne Pettersen failed to control the ball in front of goal, after a free kick and in the 76th minute, a free header had no power to bother Marlene Wissink. A couple of late changes for Norway did not produce the desired winner. There was another penalty appeal when Unni Lehn went over in the area, but again the referee looked un-impressed.
At the other end, Bente Nordby was troubled only a couple of times, the best chance coming in the 69th minute from a powerful shot by Annemiek Griffioen.
| HOLLAND | NORWAY |
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Yellow Card: Jessica Torny (68th min)
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GOAL ATTEMPTS: 15
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| REFEREE: LASSIN ISAKSEN (Faroe Islands) | |
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