England ensured they ended a memorable 2022 undefeated over everything of the yr, however may solely register a irritating 1-1 draw towards 10-player Norway on the Pinatar Area on Tuesday night.
Rachel Daly had given England a primary half lead together with her second objective in as many matches, earlier than Frida Maanum capitalised on an Ellie Roebuck mistake 10 minutes from time to stage the scores.
Norway had performed the ultimate 18 minutes with 10 gamers after Anja Sonstevold was given her marching orders for 2 bookable offences.
The laborious fought draw might be an actual supply of satisfaction for Norway, having been overwhelmed 8-0 by the Lionesses 4 months earlier throughout the Euro 2022 group phases.
Sarina Wiegman made 5 adjustments to the already barely experimental facet that beat Japan 4-0 final outing, handing a senior debut to Manchester United teenager Maya Le Tissier. The precise again was within the thick of the motion from the off, chasing and shutting down Emilie Haavi as she scampered via on objective down England’s proper flank. A mix of Le Tissier’s strain and a robust Ellie Roebuck save stored the Norway winger out.
England loved extra of the primary half possession, but it surely was Norway who noticed the higher of the possibilities, Guro Reiten narrowly firing previous the fallacious facet of the publish when she in all probability ought to have scored.
For the entire Lionesses’ possession, the ultimate move was typically lacking. Lauren James fired straight at Aurora Mikalsen after working the house herself with a terrific piece of talent simply on the half hour mark in England’s first actual sighting of objective.
Minutes later, the impasse was damaged. Chloe Kelly, England’s chief creator towards Japan on Friday night, supplied the pinpoint supply from deep, and Daly flicked dwelling a header to supply Sarina Wiegman one other reminder of her objective scoring credentials.
England made a trio of half time substitutions, and this initially disrupted their rhythm. A unfastened again move by Katie Zelem was latched onto by Sophie Roman Haug, however Roebuck was out shortly to dam the ahead’s effort. The England goalkeeper was referred to as into motion as soon as extra minutes later, stretching to tip a Reiten free kick across the publish.
Norway’s hopes of coming again into the sport have been dealt a blow 20 minutes from time as they have been diminished to 10 gamers. Sonstevold was proven a second yellow card for one more cynical foul on the vigorous Nikita Parris.
England pushed for a second, Kelly seeing a bending effort deflect narrowly huge earlier than, regardless of their one-player deficit, Norway levelled – and in fully avoidable trend from an England viewpoint. Roebuck rushed from her objective to aim to clear a via ball however didn’t make contact, enabling Maanum to stroke into an empty internet.
The Lionesses utilized the strain within the remaining 10 minutes, with Kelly inflicting issues with a sequence of harmful deliveries. Nonetheless, a winner couldn’t be discovered, as England rounded off probably the most exceptional of years in unremarkable trend.
GK: Ellie Roebuck – 5/10 – Had been very good; produced a close to publish save after two minutes to maintain out Emilie Haavi, out shortly to dam a Roman Haug effort and stretched magnificently to tip a Reiten free kick across the publish within the second half. However was at fault for the Norway equaliser, failing to make a connection as she tried to clear a via ball, permitting Maanum to stroke into an empty internet.
RB: Maya Le Tissier – 6/10 – Making her senior England debut, and had a busy first half, with Norway’s most promising alternatives come down the Lionesses proper flank. Switched to centre again for the ultimate half hour.
CB: Millie Shiny (45′ for Morgan) – 6/10 – Defensively sound, reducing out a number of probing passes to halt doubtlessly harmful Norway assaults. Changed on the break.
CB: Alex Greenwood (63′ for Russo) – 6/10 – Lax on the ball within the construct as much as an opportunity for Roman Haug within the second half, however in any other case regular defensively and efficient at breaking the strains when constructing out from the again.
LB: Niamh Charles – 7/10 – Created a gap for Toone together with her endeavour to get to the byline within the second half. Noticed loads of the ball going ahead, and linked up effectively with Kelly.
CM: Keira Walsh (45′ for Zelem) – 7/10 – Sometimes effortlessly cool on the ball and so good in tight areas; displayed great ft to create a little bit of house for herself halfway via the primary half.
CM: Ella Toone – 6/10 – Fired simply huge within the second half after creating the house for herself with some fast ft. Intelligent motion all through and sound like up play with the entrance three.
CM: Lauren James (45′ for Stanway) – 6/10 – Had England’s first sighting of objective with a terrific piece of talent to work the house, earlier than firing straight at Mikalsen. Flashes of high quality, however unable to unlock the Norway backline.
RW: Nikita Parris (83′ for Robinson) – 7/10 – Consistently switched flanks with Kelly. Drew a save from Mikalsen within the second half with a header. Grew into the sport and chargeable for Norway being diminished to 10, twice getting the higher of Anja Sonstevold and drawing a pair of cynical fouls from the Norway left again.
ST: Rachel Daly – 7/10 – Given her hotly-anticipated first begin as a quantity 9 below Sarina Wiegman, and opened the scoring with a superb little bit of motion and flicked header. In any other case did not have one other sighting of objective, and he or she moved to proper again for the ultimate half-hour.
LW: Chloe Kelly – 8/10 – Switched to the best halfway via the primary half and subsequently noticed much more pleasure. Having wreaked havoc together with her supply final outing towards Japan, arrange England’s opener with very good cross from deep. A relentless menace.
SUB: Esme Morgan (45′ for Shiny) – 6/10
SUB: Georgia Stanway (45′ for James) – 6/10
SUB: Katie Zelem (45′ for Walsh) – 6/10
SUB: Alessia Russo (63′ for Greenwood) – 6/10
SUB: Katie Robinson (83′ for Parris) – 6/10
