England’s Lionesses have reached the knock-out phases of the Ladies’s World Cup after a dominant 6-1 win towards China in Adelaide.
The European champions wanted only a level towards the Ladies’s Asian Cup winners to clinch high spot in Group D.
However they settled nerves early on within the match when Alessia Russo hooked within the opener after simply 4 minutes.
Lauren Hemp added a second 26 minutes in, earlier than Lauren James scored her second curled marvel objective of the World Cup to make it 3-0 earlier than half-time.
James thought she had added a fourth with one other fantastically positioned long-range strike earlier than the break.
Nonetheless, the referee dominated it out after a assessment.
VAR punished England once more after half-time, when China had been awarded a penalty.
The Lionesses conceded for the primary time within the event after Lucy Bronze appeared to deal with the ball and was given a yellow card after the assessment.
Wang Shuang pulled one again for China from the spot to provide the Chinese language hope, because the Lionesses let their lead slip to 3-1.
China’s Wang Shuang scores their aspect’s first objective of the sport from the penalty spot
However one other gorgeous James strike restored a three-goal cushion for England.
There was no denying the Chelsea ahead her second objective of the sport, as she produced a chic first-time side-footed volley into the far nook of the web.
And Euros hero Chloe Kelly pounced on a goalkeeping error by Zhu Yu to make it 5.
England’s Chloe Kelly celebrates scoring their fifth objective
Rachel Daly rounded off the scoring to make it 6-1 in a thumping England win.
James was denied her hat-trick when England boss Sarina Wiegman took her off with 10 minutes to go – presumably with a watch on the following spherical.
The double goalscorer mentioned: “It is what desires are product of. Comfortable for the staff and everyone seems to be buzzing and looking out ahead to going into the following spherical.
“I felt free, whether or not I’m on the wing or within the center, I’m simply completely happy to be on the pitch taking part in and having fun with my soccer. I’m completely happy I can contribute to objectives as nicely.”
On her gorgeous first-time end on the far put up, she added: “I believe just like the final recreation, I simply thought ‘Why not? Hit it and see what occurs’.”
And she or he mentioned extra is to come back, including: “For positive, every day, every recreation I’m seeking to enhance and get higher, there are a lot of extra years of enchancment, I can at all times get higher. I simply want to remain targeted and hopefully that may occur.”
James volleys in her second – and England’s fourth objective
Supervisor Wiegman made three adjustments to her Lionesses beginning line-up – with Katie Zelem beginning within the World Cup for the primary time, and Jess Carter and Hemp returning to the beginning XI.
5 gamers that lifted final 12 months’s Euros had been unavailable for the showdown with China.
However England weren’t fazed and delivered their most assured efficiency of the event to date.
Wiegman mentioned afterwards: “I’m very delighted, I mentioned earlier than the sport we had been going to do issues somewhat bit totally different than we did earlier than and we did very well, it exhibits how adaptive this staff is and I believe they’re having fun with themselves.
“I believe in the present day it labored very well, gamers felt comfy. What we would like is the qualities we have now now to try to use them somewhat bit extra.”
On James’s efficiency, Wiegman added: “She feels good, you possibly can inform, she did particular issues in the present day. Sadly one objective was cancelled, however she flows over the pitch.”
Wiegman tight-lipped on Walsh
The Lionesses booked their place within the final 16 with out key midfielder Keira Walsh, who was dominated out of no less than this conflict with an undisclosed knee downside after an damage within the final match towards Denmark.
Wiegman was non-committal when requested earlier than the sport whether or not Walsh would be capable to play any additional half within the event.
Walsh was stretchered off within the first half of England’s match towards Denmark in Sydney on Friday with what gave the impression to be a critical knee damage, though scans have since proven the 26-year-old has not suffered an ACL damage as first feared.
“Keira is okay. It is not an ACL. I can not provide you with any extra info,” Wiegman mentioned.
“It is not good to lose gamers. To start with for them, and second for the staff, however we’re right here to maneuver on.
“It is a part of sport, it isn’t good, however we have now to maneuver on, to adapt to the brand new state of affairs and discover a manner, and convey 11 gamers on the pitch with whom we expect can win the sport.”
England boss Sarina Wiegman waves to England followers on the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, Australia, after her aspect attain the final 16 of the World Cup
Learn extra:
How China v England unfolded
What subsequent for England?
The fourth-ranked Lionesses defeated Haiti 1-0 of their opener, and Denmark 1-0 within the second group recreation of the event.
Group winners and runners-up progress to the final 16.
By profitable their group, England have secured a knock-out tie towards Nigeria on Monday – avoiding hosts Australia.
The subsequent spherical of knock-out stage fixtures will happen from 5 to eight August.