2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: England Narrowly Escape Resilient Haiti’s Upset All Thanks To Re-taken Georgia Stanway’s Spot Kick
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup favorites, England have picked up a hard fought opening win all thanks to Georgia Stanway’s first-half re-taken penalty to help Lionesses begin their group-stage campaign with a narrow win against debutant, Haiti.
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Georgia Stanway’s retaken first-half penalty was enough for England to edge past impressive tournament debutants Haiti 1-0 in their Women’s World Cup opener.
England overcame a resilient performance from underdogs Haiti to secure an unconvincing 1-0 triumph in their FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) opener, as Sarina Wiegman’s side ended a mini-run of two matches without a win.
As per all pre-match expectations, the Lionesses dominated early on, with Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly and Alessio Russo all going close inside the opening 10 minutes. However, it was a Haiti mistake shortly before the half-hour mark that ultimately broke the deadlock, when Batcheba Louis inexplicably handled in the box.
Georgia Stanway stepped up the spot and saw her spot-kick superbly thwarted by Kerly Theus, but after a review, the Haiti stopper was deemed to have strayed from her line, allowing Stanway to clinically sweep home at the second time of asking.
Speaking after the game, Sarina Wiegman’s side who ended a mini-run of two matches without a win admitted to the intensity of the game.
“It was a very hard game and I’m very happy with the three points. We struggled with their unpredictability and transitions, and they were really tough in the duels. We did create chances but we also lost the ball at dangerous moments, and then they were gone, so that was hard for us.”
“The win is the most important thing. But we need to finish our chances and be a bit better in possession, a bit faster. We’re very close to scoring in open play so I hope we can do that in the next game,” she added.
“I thought Georgia Stanway was struggling in the first half. She needed to pass a bit quicker and she lost the ball a couple of times. She improved later so that was good for the team. Mary didn’t have much to do and then all of a sudden she had to make a big save that’s crucial for us, so I’m happy with that!”
As for Haiti – who overcame the likes of Mexico and Chile to make a first-ever WWC appearance – they can hold their heads high after a battling performance against the reigning European champions, despite the result representing a sixth loss in seven outings.
Meanwhile…
Laura Woods has backed England’s Mary Earps and slammed Nike for their decision not to sell the Lionesses goalkeeper shirt after the England number one hit out at the national team’s kit supplier and revealed how ‘very hurtful’ she is over Nike not making her goalkeeping strip available to purchase.
Fans were unable to buy Earps shirts during England’s Euro 2022 triumph last year, and despite the Man Utd star being told the issue would be resolved, Nike have once again failed to come through and put the decision down to a ‘commercial strategy’.
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Earp’s reaction to Nike’s decision has been backed by TV presenter Laura Woods, who took to Twitter to vent her own frustrations on the issue with England’s kit supplier.
Woods is covering the Women’s World Cup for ITV before she becomes the new face of TNT Sport’s Premier League coverage of the Premier League next season, and finds the call not to sell Earps shirt very strange.
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