Northern Ireland 0-5 England: Lionesses finish group stage in style as NI bow out

2 years ago 20

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England wrapped up an impressive group stage at Euro 2022 as they comfortably beat Northern Ireland having already qualified for the quarter-finals.

The Lionesses, who finish top of Group A, will go into the last eight having not conceded a single goal and with three wins from three games.

Tournament top scorer Beth Mead extended her tally to five goals, while substitute Alessia Russo scored two goals in five minutes after the break.

Northern Ireland, who were competing in their first women's major tournament, finish bottom of the group without a win.

It was not a home nations derby with much on the line but England were heavy favourites and were expected to demonstrate why in Southampton.

With manager Sarina Wiegman absent after testing positive for Covid on Friday, England were frustrated in the early stages at St Mary's Stadium but soon imposed their quality.

Chelsea's Fran Kirby produced a piece of magic to break the deadlock when she expertly curled the ball into the top corner, before Mead precisely drilled in a low strike to make it 2-0 before half-time.

Russo came off the bench to score for the second consecutive game, nodding in Mead's chipped cross, before spinning away and slotting in a second goal in five minutes.

An own goal from Northern Ireland's Kelsie Burrows, who flicked Mead's cross over goalkeeper Jackie Burns, completed the rout.

Northern Ireland struggled to compete after the break but had shown glimpses of threat in the first half - Lauren Wade tested goalkeeper Mary Earps from close range, while Rebecca Holloway played some teasing through balls.

Kenny Shiels' side leave the tournament with plenty of lessons to learn, but their fans were in celebratory mood as they chanted, banged drums and stood for almost the entirety of their final game at Euro 2022.

For England, a quarter-final against Spain or Denmark awaits next Wednesday, and they strengthened their status as a team few will want to face en route to the final.

More to follow.

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Northern Ireland

Squad number1Player nameBurns
Squad number2Player nameMcKenna
Squad number5Player nameNelson
Squad number4Player nameRobson
Squad number3Player nameVance
Squad number15Player nameHolloway
Squad number14Player nameWade
Squad number17Player nameRafferty
Squad number8Player nameCallaghan
Squad number11Player nameMcGuinness
Squad number10Player nameFurness

Squad number6Player nameHutton
Squad number13Player nameBurrows
Squad number16Player nameCaldwell
Squad number19Player nameWilson
Squad number22Player nameMagee

England

Squad number1Player nameEarps
Squad number2Player nameBronze
Squad number6Player nameBright
Squad number8Player nameWilliamson
Squad number3Player nameDaly
Squad number10Player nameStanway
Squad number4Player nameWalsh
Squad number7Player nameMead
Squad number14Player nameKirby
Squad number11Player nameHemp
Squad number9Player nameWhite

Squad number5Player nameGreenwood
Squad number12Player nameCarter
Squad number18Player nameKelly
Squad number20Player nameToone
Squad number23Player nameRusso

Line-ups

Northern Ireland

Formation 5-4-1

1Burns
2McKenna
5NelsonSubstituted forHuttonat 87'minutes
4Robson
3Vance
15HollowaySubstituted forMageeat 66'minutes
14Wade
17RaffertySubstituted forBurrowsat 66'minutes
8CallaghanSubstituted forWilsonat 87'minutes
11McGuinness
10FurnessSubstituted forCaldwellat 80'minutes

Substitutes

6Hutton
7McCarron
12Flaherty
13Burrows
16Caldwell
18McDaniel
19Wilson
20Andrews
21McGuinness
22Magee
23Turner

England

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Earps
2BronzeSubstituted forCarterat 74'minutes
6BrightSubstituted forGreenwoodat 45'minutes
8Williamson
3Daly
10StanwaySubstituted forTooneat 45'minutes
4Walsh
7Mead
14Kirby
11HempSubstituted forKellyat 60'minutes
9WhiteSubstituted forRussoat 45'minutes

Substitutes

5Greenwood
12Carter
13Hampton
16Scott
17Parris
18Kelly
19England
20Toone
21Roebuck
22Wubben-Moy
23Russo

Live Text

Match ends, Northern Ireland Women 0, England 5.
Second Half ends, Northern Ireland Women 0, England 5.
Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Beth Mead.
Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (England) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jessica Carter with a cross.
Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Ashley Hutton replaces Julie Nelson.
Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Emily Wilson replaces Marissa Callaghan.
Attempt missed. Beth Mead (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Beth Mead (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rebecca McKenna (Northern Ireland Women).
Foul by Chloe Kelly (England).
Nadene Caldwell (Northern Ireland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Nadene Caldwell replaces Rachel Furness.
Foul by Jessica Carter (England).
Kirsty McGuinness (Northern Ireland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Own Goal by Kelsie Burrows, Northern Ireland Women. Northern Ireland Women 0, England 5.
Offside, England. Fran Kirby tries a through ball, but Alessia Russo is caught offside.
Substitution, England. Jessica Carter replaces Lucy Bronze.
Attempt missed. Keira Walsh (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Fran Kirby.
Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Abbie Magee replaces Rebecca Holloway.
Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Kelsie Burrows replaces Laura Rafferty.