England 6-1 Argentina: Quarter-finals beckon
Arsenal striker Kelly Smith scored twice as England strolled into
the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a comfortable victory over
inept opposition who played most of the second half with 10 players
after having central defender Catalina Perez sent off.
Smith's brace took her tournament goal tally to four, level in the
Golden Boot stakes with Germany's Birgit Prinz and Marta of
Brazil.
But it was two early goals, the first of them a gift from Argentina
captain Eva Gonzalez, that set Hope Powell's team on their way to
reaching the last eight of a major tournament for the first time
since the 1995 World Cup finals.
Gonzalez was under no pressure when a ninth-minute cross from
left-back Casey Stoney dropped towards the penalty spot, but
inexplicably the central defender headed into the top corner of her
own net.
The second goal a minute later was equally bizarre, Everton
midfielder Jill Scott challenging Perez 25 yards from the Argentina
line and the ball flying off Scott's right boot to beat the
despairing dive of goalkeeper Romina Ferro.
With England rampant Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko almost stretched
the lead in the 17th minute, chipping an 18-yard shot against the
crossbar.
Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown made an easy 18th-minute save from
midfielder Fabiana Vallejos' speculative effort as the Argentinians
tried to force their way into the game.
But England were quickly back on the offensive for Arsenal winger
Alex Scott, Aluko and Kelly Smith all to have well-struck shots
kept out by Ferro.
Five minutes after the break victory was virtually assured when
Perez, booked for encroachment in the first half, saw red for a
foul on Kelly Smith and Williams coolly slid home the resulting
penalty.
Argentina pulled a goal back through a 20-yard free-kick by
Gonzalez on the hour, and two minutes later England took a more
severe blow when Williams was booked for the second time in
successive games and so will be suspended for the
quarter-final.
But a further two minutes on the celebrations at reaching the last
eight began in earnest as Kelly Smith swept the ball in from a
Yankey cross for the fourth goal.
And the Arsenal striker doubled her tally in the 76th minute,
ramming home the loose ball after Ferro failed to hold Yankey's
shot.
Doncaster Belles midfielder Vicky Exley completed the scoring from
a last-minute penalty after her fellow substitute Jody Handley had
been brought down by Gonzalez.
