England see off Portugal to set up quarter-final showdown with France

PORTUGALWOMEN

Mendes 17

ENGLAND WOMEN

Duggan 7, Parris 48

1

Toni Duggan and Nikita Parris struck early in each half as England made it three wins from three at the Women’s European Championship to set up a blockbuster quarterfinal against France.

On Sunday, England will be looking to end a winless run against France that dates back to 1974. This 2-1 victory over Portugal in Tilburg ensured the good work in the matches against Scotland and Spain did not go to waste as England sealed top spot in Group D.

And although it was far from a persuasive England performance, the fringe players brought in by manager Mark Sampson brought home the three points.

Sampson made ten changes, with only Millie Bright surviving from the starting line-ups that impressively saw off Scotland and Spain.

Duggan, who reached a halfcentury of England appearances, was gifted England’s seventh-minute opener by a howler from goalkeeper Patricia Morais, who slashed a kick out straight at the striker. Duggan was rapped on the legs by the ball but brought it under control and fired in from 25 yards for her second goal of the tournament.

But they were surprisingly caught out by Portugal in the 17th minute when ponderous defending allowed Carolina Mendes to tap in an equaliser from Diana Silva’s low cross.

Mendes might have had a second moments later but she failed to convert her header.

England went flat through to the break, worryingly so for Sampson, but they restored their lead in the third minute of the second half.

Parris collected a flicked ball forward by her Manchester City clubmate Izzy Christiansen and showed persistence in fending off surrounding defenders before jabbing a low finish past Morais.

The vim in Portugal’s game from the first half had gone away, and the equaliser that would have seen them accompany England through to the last eight never looked like coming.

0 Toni Duggan: Opening goal.