Germans hit brutal Buhlseye
THE LIONESSES broke new ground in front of a record crowd at Wembley – but suffered injury-time heartbreak against their oldest enemy.
The largest attendance ever for an England women’s football match turned out in dreadful conditions, as yet another milestone in the game was reached at the national stadium.
But they suffered the same sinking feeling that had ultimately blighted Phil Neville’s side at last summer’s World Cup as their woes from the penalty spot again surfaced – and Klara Buhl’s goal in the final seconds compounded their misery.
In truth, it was little more than the visitors deserved. They flew out of the blocks, looked by far the more the more composed and dangerous outfit and despite the timing of the winning goal, could lay far greater claim to the victory.
But it was still another historic moment for the women’s game. The turnout of 77,768 was lower than officials at the Football Association were hoping for, having put up the ‘Sold Out’ signs on an attendance of over 86,000.
However, the stayaways, missed out on an entertaining clash against the old enemy, with the incessant driving rain inside the stadium failing to dampen the enthusiasm of the record crowd.
What did drag England down was a performance during an opening quarter that even super-optimist head coach Neville would have described as ‘awful.’
Passes were hit astray with alarming regularity, Germany produced nine shots on Mary Earps’ goal during the first half-hour. Five of them on target. The Lionesses managed none.
In fact, Earps produced a save that was out of the top drawer with less than three minutes on the clock but a few minutes later, she failed to prevent Alexandra Popp opening the scoring.
Dzenifer Marozsan started the move on the right with a lofted pass into Kathrin Hendrich who crossed and her captain did the rest, heading into the net from 12 yards.
The most that could be said of the Lionesses for the next quarter-hour was that they stayed in the contest. That flow changed after a poor tackle on Beth Mead by Sara Doorsoun.
Had VAR been available, there is little doubt that the Wolfsburg defender would have been dismissed by referee Stephanie Frappart.
Ten minutes later, Mead came in off the flank and her run behind the German rearguard was picked out by Ellen White. Arsenal forward Mead reached White’s ball before keeper Merle Frohms and was upended. The referee pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Nikita Parris who shot down the middle – but Frohms saved.
England pressed and were rewarded on minute before the interval. Kiera Walsh lifted a ball over the top. White (above) gambled and poked home.
In the final 10 minutes, England were on the back foot as the visitors pressed and Buhl took the ball outside skipper Steph Houghton before drilling home a cross-shot.