England made light work of Wales in their final group stage match of this year’s UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. Their game against France is long forgotten after both dominant performances aga...
England made light work of Wales in their final group stage match of this year’s UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. Their game against France is long forgotten after both dominant performances against The Netherlands and now Wales. The Lionesses progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face Sweden, while Wales will exit the tournament after three consecutive defeats.
Sarina Wiegman’s side scored their first four goals in the first half of the game. Georgia Stanway opened the scoring in the 10th minute from the penalty spot. Ella Toone followed just under 10 minutes later with the second goal of the evening, rebounding from her initial effort on goal. She then assisted both Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo who scored the third and fourth goals of the evening respectively.
The second half of the game was less of a scoring fest, but both substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones joined their teammates on the score sheet by scoring England’s fifth and sixth goal later into the second half.
Wales were completely dominated and could not match one of Europe’s elite teams. They did get one goal in the 76th minute of the game when Jess Fishlock broke free and assisted Hannah Cain, but it was far too little, far too late.
As it happened
England dominated from the very beginning. Just 10 minutes in, Stanway was taken down just inside the box by Carrie Jones. The initial free-kick turned into an awarded penalty after VAR review. Stanway capitalized on it and opened the scoring. Not 10 minutes later, Toone scored the second goal of the evening, firing her rebounded effort into the back of the net after a dominant build-up from the back.
Toone then went on to assist both Hemp and Russo. Hemp scored the third of the evening by heading it into the back of the net, too far for Wales’ Olivia Clark to stop. Alessia Russo finally got her first goal of the tournament not long after, finding herself on the receiving end of Toone’s cross into the box before tapping it past Clark.
Wiegman’s fifth goal scorer of the night was Mead. She was substituted on for Hemp at halftime and contributed to her side continuing to trouble Wales’ backline. She was assisted by fellow substitute Beever-Jones, who came on for Russo.
Wales were completely dominated and could not level up to England, but they did get to pull one back. Wales veteran Fishlock assisted Cain, who thumped the ball past Hannah Hampton, causing the Wales fans behind the goal to erupt in celebration.
England’s response came just before full-time, when Beever-Jones headed in Mead’s cross, making it 6-1 to England.
Wales are eliminated from the tournament after three consecutive losses, while England finish second of group D, and will play Sweden on Thursday at 21:00 CET [20:00 GMT] at the Stadion Letzigrund in Zürich.
The lineups
WAL: Clark; E.Morgan, Roberts, Evans, Woodham; Fishlock, James; Holland, Jones, Rowe; FF.Morgan
Category: General Sports
