Match Report
CHINA |
2 |
(1) |
- |
(2) |
3 |
ENGLAND |
Yi Bo 27 (F) |
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|
|
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Alex Danson 12 (F) |
Ye 40 (F) |
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Lucilla Wright 29 (F) |
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Crista Cullen 55 (PC) |
England women opened their World Cup campaign with an important victory over China in Madrid - re-establishing their lead twice after equalisers from their opponents.
Slough's Alex Danson and Olton's Lucilla Wright both saw their first-half goals cancelled out before Leicester defender Crista Cullen, making her 50th international appearance, scored the winner from a penalty corner.
The Chinese, ranked fifth in the world, finished second only to Olympic gold medallists Germany in July's Champions Trophy and posed a tough test for Danny Kerry's side.
England contained China's early energy - although they needed some help from the umpires when Ma Yi Bo's ninth-minute penalty corner conversion was ruled out after going in off a team-mate's body.
England struck in the 12th minute when Cullen's free-hit created a goalmouth scramble from which Danson was able to capitalise.
Another Yi Bo penalty corner brought China's equaliser in the 27th minute, her drag-flick beating goalkeeper Beth Storry to her right.
But England restored their advantage two minutes later when Wright drove into the 25, combining with Danson to create panic in the defence and then following up to slot home the second.
The lead was intact until five minutes after the interval when a free-hit was deflected past Storry by Ye.
There followed a period of Chinese domination before Danson stole the ball off Yi Bo, rounded two defenders and fired in a good shot which was saved.
Midway through the second half, China were reduced to 10 and England seized their chance, Cullen flicking in a 55th-minute penalty corner.
A late scare saw a goalmouth scramble cleared to safety by the England defence, before Danson missed the chance to seal the victory by shooting wide.
Coach Kerry was pleased to get the World Cup off to a winning start.
"China are one of the world's best teams and they wanted to come out and attack - and that suited what we wanted to do," he said.
"It was good to get our tournament up and running."
England now face world number ones Holland on Friday (1300 BST).
England: Storry (GK), Wooding, Cullen, Clewlow, Grant, Richardson, Wright, Walsh, Bimson, Herbert, Williams. Substitutes: Ellis (Doncaster), Rogers, Walker, Danson, Ellis (Ipswich). Did not play: Roberts (GK), Walton.