Impetus editor Ben Gilby brings us the first of three reports over the coming days from the international programme which took place over the past ten days or so. Today, we focus on the SheBelieves Cup.
SheBelieves Cup
Matchday One:
The 2020 competition got underway in Orlando with an excellent 3-1 victory for Spain against Japan.
The Spanish took just eight minutes to get their opening goal. Marta Cardona worked her way down the right wing to put a ball into Jennifer Hermoso. Her effort eventually found its way into the net by Alexia Putellas.
Japan had a great chance to level six minutes later when Yuika Sagasawa had an effort saved by Lola Gollardo in the Spanish goal. After Spain wasted several opportunities to go further ahead, Japan punished them with an equaliser on the brink of half time. Riza Shimizu’s cross which was brilliantly volleyed in by Mana Iwabuchi.
After the break, Spain re-established their lead thanks to Lucia Garcia who rounded Yamashita in the Japanese goal and placed the ball into the empty net.
With twelve minutes left, the result was assured when Garcia again took the ball around Yamashita to complete a 3-1 victory in front of just over 7,700 spectators.
The second game of the double header saw World champions United States comfortably defeat the reigning SheBelieves Cup holders England in front of a boisterous crowd of 16,531.
The USA dominated the opening exchanges with the Lionesses not helping themselves when almost running into trouble on several occasions when trying to clear danger by playing out from the back.
Carly Telford made some excellent saves during America’s period of domination, with Millie Bright putting in important tackles and marshalling the defence well.
Crucially, England emerged unscathed on the scoresheet during the opening twenty minutes, but struggled to create many chances of their own. Although impressive off the ball, Ellen White was largely anonymous as an attacking threat.
England started well in the second half, forcing a corner. Yet eight minutes into the period, the USA took the lead thanks to a beautiful curling shot from Christen Press, who escaped from Steph Houghton’s laudable attempt to stop her and then capitalised on being allowed to run through by a Lioness defence who were way too slow in first spotting and then stopping the danger.
Three minutes later, it was 2-0, and again poor England defending was to blame. This time both Steph Houghton and Millie Bright were culpable as Lindsey Horan lofted a ball comfortably over the top with Carli Lloyd having way too much time to take the ball and slot it past Telford.
Immediately afterwards, Georgia Stanway played in Nikita Parris whose first touch was desperately disappointing and allowed Alyssa Naeher to easily smother. Jordan Nobbs put in a promising cameo which underlined the opinion of those who were surprised that she did not start the match. USA were comfortable in the remainder of the match. The Lionesses will be confident of victories in their remaining matches with Japan and Spain – but they would need to produce improved performances.
Matchday Two:
England played better in their second match against Japan, but despite the 1-0 win in New Jersey, it was a performance that still raised far too many questions about the progress of the Lionesses since the World Cup.
Phil Neville made several changes, notably Jordan Nobbs returning to midfield, with the FAWSL’s top English born top scorer Beth England coming in to lead the attack along with Everton’s Chloe Kelly.
With 19 year-old Lauren Hemp keeping her place in the team, it was the sort of youthful line-up that many have been calling for. After just three minutes, England came close. A fantastic run through from Hemp saw the first of several Japanese defensive howlers and the Norfolk born youngster got a shot away which was pushed wide for a corner.
Japan replied with a chance on nine minutes when Ellie Roebuck dived well to push behind Sugita’s effort.
Four minutes later, Beth England was played in by Chloe Kelly, but her shot was snaffled up by Ikeda. Truth be told, the Chelsea striker should have scored.
The Japanese succeeded in slowing the pace of the game significantly, and with the Lionesses seemingly reluctant to press and get into the faces of their opponents – tactics that were so successful for the Spanish in their opening match – the match degenerated to the sort of pace you would expect to see in a pre-season friendly, with a lack of urgency.
It took until just after the half hour mark for another chance to be fashioned when a magnificent break from Jordan Nobbs ended with a cheeky back-heel to Kelly. The Everton star played Beth England in beautifully but Ikeda saved well with her feet and Georgia Stanway blazed the follow-up over the bar.
Japan had the final effort of the first half when Mina Tanaka ran through and hit a shot from the right hand side of the box which Roebuck did well to push aside. Not surprisingly it was 0-0 at the break.
The pace didn’t pick up much after the break as the game became increasingly bogged down with little in the way of efforts on goal. Phil Neville rang the changes and brought on the old guard. Nikita Parris’ arrival brought some much needed pace down the wing. Within seconds of coming on, her run found Nobbs who crossed to Ellen White (on for Beth England), but her effort missed.
With seven minutes to go, another Japanese defensive calamity saw third sub Toni Duggan win the ball and put in a perfect cross to White who, with a trademark first time effort, rolled the ball into the net. England had won in front of 15,574 fans, but they are still far from convincing given the talent of the players available to them.
The Lionesses’ win kept them in the running to retain their SheBelieves title, but the United States late winner over Spain means it will be an uphill task.
Julie Ertz’s goal with three minutes remaining sees the hosts have one hand on the trophy and only a highly unlikely failure to beat Japan in the final game would bring about England’s slim hopes of winning.
Spain, so impressive in their opening 3-1 win over Japan will be absolutely devastated not to have earned a point from the game in which they had more possession than the World champions.
Carli Lloyd, playing in her home New Jersey territory had two excellent chances in the first half, but Sandra Panos in the Spanish goal did well to deny her both times.
Early in the second half, Rose Lavelle was unlucky with an effort that went narrowly over the bar and Sam Mewis’ effort looked bound for the top corner before Panos got across to claw it away.
Three minutes from the end came the decisive moment. After Lynn Williams was fouled, Christen Press’ free-kick found the head of Ertz to score the winner to the delight of a sell-out crowd of 26,500.
Matchday Three:
The United States guaranteed they would win the SheBelieves Cup after a 3-1 win over Japan, who will be desperately disappointed with their form in the tournament.
It took only seven minutes for the USA to take the lead in Texas. Lindsey Horan was fouled on the edge of the area. Megan Rapinoe’s free-kick curled over the wall and into the net. Rapinoe played a major part in the second goal some twenty minutes later. The American star played in Christen Press who put in a magnificent chip over Japanese keeper Ayaka Yamashita.
The Olympic hosts came out strongly in the opening period of the second half. Mana Iwabuchi’s drive was well held by Adrianna French in the USA goal. However, Iwabuchi had better luck in the fifty-eighth minute when her shot squeezed into the goal.
Japan pressed well for an equaliser which never came. The decisive movement came in the 83rd minute when Mallory Pugh’s corner found Lindsey Horan who added a third to the delight of the full house of 19,096.
Defending champions England concluded their hugely disappointing campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Spain – a result which condemned the Lionesses to third place in the tournament.
The Spanish, who finish second in the final table had a sensational tournament, and Alexia Putellas’ header after she was given the freedom of the penalty area with seven minutes left condemned England to a seventh loss in eleven games.
It was another much changed line-up for the Lionesses, with Steph Houghton on the bench, Beth England seemingly having picked up a slight injury on a bumpy training pitch and Lauren Hemp unwell. Carly Telford returned in goal with Ellie Roebuck returning to the bench.
England created some good opportunities in the opening period with both Nikita Parris and Ellen White having chances, but the familiar recent story of not scoring when they are in the ascendency would return to haunt them.
In the second half, Spain grew noticeably in confidence and Carly Telford earned her corn by keeping England in the game. First, Ainhoa Moraza glided past Houghton and Abbie McManus but the Chelsea keeper denied her.
Putellas’ winner came when she rose to powerfully head Jenni Hermoso’s corner into the goal to the delight of their supporters in the 10,507 Texas crowd.
It was a disappointing end to a disappointing tournament for England.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| United States of America | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| Spain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Japan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
Tomorrow: We round up all the action from both the Algarve Cup and Pinatar Cup competitions.
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