England 2-1 Canada: England outclass hosts as they reach semi-finals for the first tie
Yet another Lucy Bronze winner seals victory for England who knock out hosts Canada, progressing into the Semi-Finals for the first time ever.
England
Canada
ENGLAND: BARDSLEY (GK), RAFFERTY, WILLIAMS, HOUGHTON (C), BASSETT, SCOTT, CARNEY, MOORE, BRONZE, CHAPMAN, TAYLOR
CANADA: MCLEOD, BUCHANAN, WILKINSON, BELANGER, SESSELMANN, SCOTT, SINCLAIR (C), SCHMIDT, TANCREDI, CHAPMAN, LAWRENCE
An excellent spell in the first half for the lionesses proved to be the difference as they ran out 2-1 winners in Vancouver, in the Women's World Cup.
Jodie Taylor opened the scoring with just 10 minutes on the clock, which was closely followed by a Lucy Bronze header just minutes later.
Canada managed to equalise through captain Christine Sinclairjust before half time but their efforts proved too little too late as they couldn’t get back into the game.
Exciting opening 10 minutes as England press on
As expected the game started with an intense tempo, both teams replicating the bouncing atmosphere created by the record-breaking 54,027 in attendance at BC Place.
Inspired by the crowd, Canada’s Sinclair made an excellent run down the right flank before picking out Melissa Tancredi, but the striker wasted her opportunity, firing high and wide of the target.
But with just 10 minutes on the clock, it was England who turned up the heat, opening the scoring through a composed Taylor strike. The hungry forward pounced on a sloppy mistake by Lauren Sesselmann before drilling home, much to delight of the England fans.
Clearly boosted by the early goal, Lucy Bronze doubled their tally with a set piece header just three minutes later. Fara Williamspicked out Bronze with her free kick and the right back rose aboveCandace Chapman to make it 2-0.
At the other end, Tancredi missed her second chance of the game with a disappointing header just yards from goal.
Lionesses too strong for England in first half
England went looking for a third on 27 minutes from another set piece, this time it was Katie Chapman who met the ball, the crossbar the only thing denying England from extending their lead.
A string of corners were the outcome of a spell of pressure fromCanada but centre halves Stephanie Houghton and Laura Bassettdealt with the pressure well.
Canada’s efforts allowed them to pull a goal back just minutes before the half time whistle when Sinclair was the first to a loose ball dropped by Karen Bardsley. The keeper had not put a foot wrong for the full 40 minutes but couldn’t handle a long-range effort as she handed it on a plate for the Canadian Captain.
Half Time: England 2-1 Canada
Karen Carney was the first in on the action in the second half with just a couple of minutes gone. She cut inside her defender but slipped just as she struck the ball and her effort found the wrong side of the crossbar.
Despite their positive start to the second half, a massive blow forEngland was seen early on when they were forced to make a change of keepers. Siobhan Chamberlain came on in place of Bardsley who appeared to have cut her eye.
Canada’s Erin McLeod was forced into making a brilliant save from a lively Taylor who linked up well with Carney before unleashing her strike inside the box.
With the home crowd right behind Canada, they started to pile forward to look for the equaliser but although England looked nervous at times they remained disciplined enough to deny any real chance for the Canadians.
Houghton was given a glorious chance to put the game away with yet another set piece from close range, but the England captain fired straight at McLeod.
Canada go in search of equaliser
England were then forced to withstand another nervous spell at the back end of the half as Canada gave everything for an intense few minutes in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game.
It was a case of hanging on and defend everything in the final stages for England but their early quality proved to be enough to send them through into the semi-finals for the first time in history with a convincing 2-1 win over Canada.
They now face Japan in what will be their biggest game yet.
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England reached a World Cup semi-final for the first time in their history as victory over hosts Canada set up a tie with reigning champions Japan.
The Lionesses made a dream start with two goals in three minutes as Jodie Taylor, making her first World Cup start nine weeks after knee surgery, capitalised on Lauren Sesselmann's blunder.
Lucy Bronze then headed in Fara Williams' free-kick to double the advantage.
England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley continued her mixed World Cup when she gifted Christine Sinclair a goal three minutes before the break.
But in a second half in which Mark Sampson's side became disjointed, England held on for a famous win which sparked joyous celebrations at the final whistle.
England had already broken new ground by winning their first World Cup knockout game in the last 16, when they beat Norway.
But the result means that Sampson has guided a senior England side, men's or women's, to a World Cup semi-final for the first time since 1990.
Similar to their final group game win over Colombia, England started fast and then dug deep to keep Canada out as they matched the victory they inflicted over John Herdman's side in this year's Cyprus Cup.
Although they did not reach the heights of their second round win over Norway, they will now travel to Edmonton to face a team that they beat in the group stages of the last World Cup before Japan went on to lift the trophy.
England's preparations were disrupted shortly before the game when vice-captain Jordan Nobbs posted an update on social media to say her World Cup was over because of a hamstring injury.
The Football Association denied that the story was true.
But it had little effect on England, as 29-year-old Taylor showed signs of her growing status by robbing Sesselmann and drilling low past hosts' goalkeeper Erin McLeod for her first World Cup goal just 10 months after making her debut.
The nightmare continued for Canada when England won a free-kick deep in Canadian territory.
Williams picked out Bronze at the back post, and the right-back managed to loop her header over McLeod and in off the crossbar.
England's goals came against the run of play with Melissa Tancredi guilty of being wasteful and Katie Chapman almost added to England's tally when her header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Sinclair, who has been subdued so far this tournament, was then offered a lifeline.
Bardsley, who was also at fault when she conceded late on against Mexico, could not gather Ashley Lawrence's centre and Canada's record goalscorer converted from close range.
Bardsley's game came to a premature end when she departed five minutes into the second half with what looked like a swollen eye and was replaced by Siobhan Chamberlain.
But it did not disrupt England as Taylor was denied a second when McLeod brilliantly tipped her curling effort wide.
With the game becoming scrappy it felt like another England mistake might lead to a Canada equaliser.
But after Sophie Schmidt fired over seven minutes from the end, the Lionesses remained resolute and roared wildly as the hosts were eliminated in front of 54,027 fans.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
England Women
- 01 Bardsley (Chamberlain - 52' )
- 12 Bronze
- 05 Houghton
- 06 Bassett
- 03 Rafferty
- 11 Moore Booked
- 04 Williams (White - 79' )
- 08 Scott
- 16 Chapman
- 10 Carney (Stoney - 93' )
- 19 Taylor
Substitutes
- 02 Scott
- 07 Nobbs
- 09 Aluko
- 13 Chamberlain
- 14 Greenwood
- 15 Stoney
- 17 Potter
- 18 Duggan
- 20 Sanderson
- 21 Telford
- 22 Kirby
- 23 White
Canada Women
- 01 McLeod
- 07 Wilkinson (Matheson - 62' )
- 03 Buchanan
- 10 Sesselmann Booked
- 15 Chapman
- 13 Schmidt
- 11 Scott (Kyle - 77' )
- 22 Lawrence
- 09 Bélanger
- 12 Sinclair
- 14 Tancredi (Leon - 71' )
Substitutes
- 02 Zurrer
- 04 Moscato
- 05 Gayle
- 06 Kyle
- 08 Matheson
- 16 Filigno
- 17 Fleming
- 18 Iacchelli
- 19 Leon
- 20 Nault
- 21 Labbé
- 23 LeBlanc
Ref: Claudia Umpierrez
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