STING IN THE TAYL
Jodie seals smash ’n grab raid
STRIKE partners Fran Kirby and Jodie Taylor put England within touching distance of the Women’s Euro 2017 quarter-finals in Holland last night.
England now have maximum points from their first two group games and need only a draw with Portugal on Thursday to reach the last eight.
Chelsea’s Kirby scored after just 96 seconds and, after Spain had dominated much of the possession, Arsenal’s Taylor hit the clincher and her fourth goal of the tournament five minutes from time.
Kirby raced on to an Ellen White pass to send an angled shot inside the near post and give England the perfect start.
The lead should have been doubled in the sixth minute when Chelsea central defender Millie Bright headed home a Jordan Nobbs free-kick.
The effort was ruled out for offside but replays showed that a goal should have been awarded.
Head coach Mark Sampson’s decision to name an unchanged team – for the first time in his 55 games in charge – was quickly paying dividends.
Dash
Ahead of the match Sampson had also warned his players about Spanish “dark arts” and cynical blocking fouls on Nobbs and Kirby – both unpunished – backed him up.
Another goal chance arrived from a Nobbs corner but captain Steph Houghton drove a 15-yard shot over the bar.
Spain began to recover from England’s early onslaught and midfielder Alexia Putellas had their first shot on target, comfortably saved by Manchester City goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
The second half began in similar fashion and in the 51st minute Bardsley had to dash off her line to save at the feet of striker Amanda Sampedro.
England found Spain much tougher opponents than Scotland, who they thrashed 6-0 in their group opener, and Sampson’s team were chasing shadows at times.
England had a huge stroke of luck 15 minutes from time when a penalty was awarded against striker White for handball only for a line official to change the referee’s mind.
And Taylor, who hit a hat-trick against the Scots, slid home the second goal from a Nobbs pass.
England’s final group opponents are Portugal, who last night beat Scotland 2-1 in Rotterdam. That left the Scots pointless and needing a miracle to take one of the two quarter-final places.