Women's Soccer Scene

Women's Football News


Latest News	Women's Football TV	News Archive	Search	Get the Mag

Share page on Social Media: f Share t G+ find us on Twitter: @wssmagnews
Women's Football News

Iceland freeze out England

Women's Football News 17 Jul 2009

England 0
Iceland 2 (Magnusdottir 26, Vidarsdottir 80)
att: 4,170; at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, Colchester
England's nine-match unbeaten run, stretching back a year, came to an end as a team packed with fringe players went down to a goal in each half from an Iceland side well led by striker Margret Vidarsdottir.

England Head Coach Hope Powell opted to make several changes to her starting line up in order to give a number of players a chance to impress ahead of the Finals. Amongst the changes, Danielle Buet and Jess Clarke were given their first home starts and Rachel Unitt began the game in the unaccustomed position of right back.

Iceland created the first opportunity of the game, Siobhan Chamberlain needing to scramble across goal in order to keep out an effort from Margret Vidarsdottir at the expense of a corner. England hit back with Jess Clarke firing a shot just wide but Iceland continued to look sharp going forward and Holmfridur Magnusdottir fired a shot just past the near post after cutting inside a challenge from Rachel Unitt.

There was a threat for England as Vidarsdottir chased down Edda Gardarsdottir's long ball but she was crowded out by a combination of Faye White and Laura Bassett and the danger was averted.

However there was to be no escape in the 26th minute as Dora Stefansdottir slid a neat pass into the path of Magnusdottir who tucked the ball past the oncoming Chamberlain and Iceland were in the lead.

The strong running Vidarsdottir was proving to be a handful for the England defence and another attempt on goal was held at full stretch by Chamberlain. However it was England who next came close to scoring as Rachel Yankey's corner picked out White at the far post where her looping header was cleared off the line by Dora Larusdottir.

England struggled to make headway in the early stages of the second half but a chance came as Aluko dispossessed Gudrun Gunnarsdottir in the area but Clarke's shot was charged down and Emily Westwood hesitated as the rebound came her way.

Vidarsdottir came close again as she picked up a loose ball and shrugged off a challenge from Westwood before unleashing a 25-yard strike which Carly Telford did well to turn over the bar. Olina Vidarsdottir and Sara Gunnarsdottir exchanged passes which saw the former make a break down the left and the Iceland striker turned her shot just wide at the near post from the resulting low cross.

England worked hard but chances were scarce, Scott headed over from a Buet free kick whilst Aluko skipped past a couple of challenges before her left foot shot was saved. Hope Powell then took the chance to make a couple of substitutions, giving debuts to Rachel Williams and Dunia Susi. The two new players combined well as Williams laid the ball back for Susi to drive a right foot shot over the bar

A setpiece almost led to an England equaliser as Buet's corner caused problems in the area, Clarke tried to turn the ball home but her effort was blocked in front of goal. It was the winger's last contribution of the match as she was replaced by another debutant, Gemma Davison.

However within two minutes Iceland had doubled their lead as Vidarsdottir, the best player on the pitch by some distance, carried the ball to the edge of the area where she got past White before sliding her shot past Telford to make it 2-0.

Iceland could have had a third as Magnusdottir broke through but Telford came out to block with her legs. The game was up for England though and it will have given Hope Powell much to ponder on before finalising her squad for the UEFA Championship Finals in Finland next month.

England: Siobhan Chamberlain (sub Carly Telford 45mins), Rachel Unitt, Corinne Yorston (sub Dunia Susi 65mins), Danielle Buet, Faye White, Laura Bassett, Jessica Clarke (sub Gemma Davison 78mins), Jill Scott (sub Rachel Williams 65mins), Eniola Aluko, Emily Westwood, Rachel Yankey. Subs: Jody Handley, Natasha Dowie, Michelle Hickmott, Katie Chapman, Sue Smith, Lindsay Johnson, Lianne Sanderson.

Iceland: Thora Helgadottir, Gudrun Gunnarsdottir, Olina Vidarsdottir, Edda Gardarsdottir, Erna Sigurdarsdottir, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Dora Stefansdottir (sub Katrin Omarsdottir 69mins), Katrin Jonsdottir, Margret Vidarsdottir, Dora Larusdottir (sub Erna Arnardottir 81mins), Sara Gunnarsdottir. Subs: Gudbjorg Gunnarsdottir, Rakel Hannudottir, Asta Arnadottir, Gudny Oainsdottir, Sif Atladottir, Harpa Thorsteindottir, Thorunn Jonsdottir.