England women reach Euro final

Eurosport - Mon, 07 Sep 10:36:00 2009

Jill Scott netted late in extra-time to send England's women into the European Championship final with a 2-1 win over Netherlands in Tampere.

FOOTBALL 2009 Women's Euro 2009 England Jill Scott - 0

Kelly Smith put the Three Lions ahead midway through the second half, only for Marious Pieete to level minutes later.

As the game ran into extra time, it looked like Lianne Sanderson's point-blank miss would send the match to penalties before Scott struck to set up a mouth-watering final against Germany or Norway.

The Dutch set their stall out right from the kick-off, presenting an orange wall that frustrated their opponents.

However, Lindsay Johnson almost took advantage of the English possession in the sixth minute with a hopeful stab at goal from Sue Smith's corner. The looping ball looked comfortable for keeper Loes Guerts, but she inexplicably fumbled and gratefully gathered at the second attempt just under the bar.

It took until midway through the second half for England to breach the Dutch rearguard and register a second shot. The talismanic Kelly Smith powered her way into the box and Petra Hogewonig was relieved to see the ball bounce off her to safety.

With the Oranje looking to hit England on the break, Manon Melis's long-range effort was saved by Rachel Brown and Karin Stevens should have done better with her shot as the half came to a close.

As the second period started where the first left off, English pressure finally paid dividends in the 61st minute.

Eniola Aluko won the ball deep in the Dutch half, spotted Smith in space and the Boston Breaker stroked the ball home.

The English joy was short-lived. A quick attack down the English right left Casey Stoney on her back and as the ball fell to Pieete, she gleefully found the net.

Smith came close to restoring England's lead with another powerful solo run but opted to shoot with Sanderson waiting for a pass, before Hogewonig was lucky to survive what looked like a blatant handball with just minutes of normal time remaining.

And the Dutch were again counting their lucky stars again in the first half of extra time when Sanderson amazingly hit the crossbar from yards out.

As England pressed, Scott had a gilt-edged chance only to see the ball bounce off her shoulder, but with penalties looming, she powered a header through Guerts's despairing dive and England through to their first major final since 1984.

Ian Hare / Eurosport

Comment 28 - 47 of 47

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  1. Germany wins. Each of their players is by far better­ then the best English player.
    They would even win­ aginst a European selection.
    England will be crushed.

    From Ingo, on Wed 9 Sep 12:52AM

  2. Number 6, if that's so then why are you making a­ comment on here, just makes you sound like a smug @#$%.­ Yep, mistake should not have been made BUT why be so­ bloody cocky about it..

    From Denise, on Mon 7 Sep 5:20PM

  3. Go England! Perhpas this'll give the Men a bit of a­ kick up the donkeys @#$%.

    From lee, on Mon 7 Sep 9:59AM

  4. Give me womens football every time ,far more­ entertaining then the overpaid men ,and when the­ England team have finished this competition [hopefully­ as champions] lets give them all government top m.p ­ jobs and they will most likely run the country better­ then the men ...go girls and thanks for the great­ entertainment.......from a disillusioned­ male........................

    From captain sensible, on Mon 7 Sep 9:31AM

  5. All the best for Thursday! You can do it girls!

    From Jackie, on Mon 7 Sep 9:21AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Dooooooooooooooooooo you love?­ horse????????????????????? I am a pr etty woman who?­ loves horse very much and i love to meet someone spe?­ cial who loves horse, too. I recently joined?­ ~~~RiderCup id, c om ~~~ becasue i just heard that it?­ the best, largest and most effective site for si ngle?­ horse lovers and friends in the world! I just want to?­ try it out.

    From lveikseksi4w, on Mon 7 Sep 9:19AM

  7. Go England go!!! Hope you win the final on Thursday,­ I'll be there to watch and cheer!!!

    From Mia, on Mon 7 Sep 9:03AM

  8. Hi Everyone - I am not a football supporter and have­ very little time for this sport generally. However, I­ have watched the Ladies matches from the quarter finals­ and found that they play excellent go all the way­ football. I congratulate the English team for their­ win, the effort of both teams last night was truly­ entertaining and a delight to watch. I sat on the edge­ of my seat during extra time.
    I wish the English team­ the very best in the final.
    Also I trust that the mens­ teams generally will look at the control, effort and­ sportsmanship that these girls put into their game and­ take a leaf from their books!

    From mike60_mdm, on Mon 7 Sep 7:50AM

  9. Oh and GO ENGLAND!!!

    From juddaz1982, on Mon 7 Sep 7:28AM

  10. RE: 16% of the population? what population? Women make­ up roughly half of England, in fact thanks to longer­ life expectancies more than half. If you were talking­ abut the uk then you might want to check out the office­ of national statistics before type nonsense. Also to be­ fair to Yahoo they have been posting stories of every­ one of Englands games, even the shaky start. What they­ dont have (or i couldn't find) was a table or draw­ list but when i looked for them on Sky and BBC I found­ even less info. so er go yahoo.

    From juddaz1982, on Mon 7 Sep 7:28AM

  11. read it again Expro... ya clem

    From jonathan c, on Mon 7 Sep 4:53AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    such a badly written article by Ian Hare. It could­ have applead to a hockey match for all we know and who­ are they to meet in the final Ian? Quite an important­ reason for this match don't you think!
    Set the­ scene, tell it as it is and give us something to look­ forward to Ian or go back to writing about train­ spotting.

    From Expro, on Mon 7 Sep 4:41AM

  13. Omg, pillocks everywhere, go get a Job.

    Ladies, ­ i n final and english, when was the last posers ­ England mens team in a final, REMIND M

    good on you­ girls, take no heed of these pillocks slaggin you­ off, bet they cant play darts of even spell it

    grow­ up you morons go play with your train sets, well done­ there girls.

    From cliff, on Mon 7 Sep 2:01AM

  14. Well done the ladies,Britain needs winners,and England­ Ladies Fotball is better than the England men's­ team.

    From Big Bluenose, on Mon 7 Sep 12:57AM

  15. Re: 37... Imperious (arrogant)... Women only make up­ 16% of the world? What are you on lad? Women make up­ 49.76%
    FACT!

    From Bref Tayka, on Mon 7 Sep 12:46AM

  16. alreet donnay bye, how many animals do ya have?

    From Jamie, on Mon 7 Sep 12:43AM

  17. Nice picture Colin (39)

    From McCauley Culkin, on Mon 7 Sep 12:30AM

  18. Can i run the bath for them at the end of the game???­ Please(yours pervert)

    From alfablewhite, on Mon 7 Sep 12:09AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who cares??

    From Colin, on Sun 6 Sep 11:47PM

  20. "England has a womans football team ?"­
    Actually Ryan, we used to have two until Capello came­ along.

    From studmarked, on Sun 6 Sep 11:35PM
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