France Women 3-1 England Women: Disappointment for interim boss Riise

France Women 3-1 England Women: Disappointment for interim manager Hege Riise as Lionesses suffer defeat in friendly despite Fran Kirby’s second-half penalty

  • Kirby’s penalty was England’s only reward as they lost an entertaining friendly
  • Goals in each half from Baltimore and Asseyi put the hosts in control in Caen 
  • Kirby’s spot-kick reduced the deficit with 11 minutes remaining on Friday
  • But Katoto’s close-range effort three minutes later sealed victory

In her first real test as England Women boss, Hege Riise discovered her side is very much still a work in progress. Threatening going forward, but susceptible to pace on the counter-attack.

The Lionesses had thrashed Northern Ireland in Riise’s opening game as manager back in February but facing the team ranked third in the world proved a much tougher task, despite a number of positive Covid cases impacting the strength of the French squad.

The hosts had not conceded for eight games and had 11 clean sheets in their previous 12 fixtures but England should have had more than their solitary goal in Caen. It could easily have finished 2-2 had Kiera Walsh’s effort hit the other side of the post before Marie-Antoinette Katoto raced down the other end to make it 3-1.

Forward Fran Kirby was a threat and gave England a lifeline from the penalty spot

FRANCE (4-4-2): Peyraud-Magnin, Torrent (Perisset), Tounkara, De Almeida, Morroni, Palis (Jaurena 58) Geyoro, Baltimore, Diani (Dali 85), Katoto, Gauvin (Asseyi 58)

Subs: Durand, Thibaud, Jean-Francois, Le Sommer, Khelfi, Picaud, Fleury, Deslandes, Ntambwe

Booked: Palis, Torrent

Scorers: Baltimore 32, Asseyi 63, Katoto 82

ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Roebuck, Daly, Williamson (Wubben-Moy 63), Bright, Greenwood (Charles 45), Scott (Nobbs 73) , Walsh, Mead (Hemp 63), Kirby, Parris (Kelly 45), White (England 74)

Subs: MacIver, Bardsley, Wubben-Moy, Turner, Toone, Nobbs, Stanway, Telford, Morgan

Scorer: Kirby 79

Referee: Sara Persson

 

Like France, England too had players missing with captain Steph Houghton out injured and Lucy Bronze left at home as she continues to recover from a knock. Her absence was felt at right back as stand-in Rachel Daly was caught out for France’s opening goal in the 32nd minute.

The defender got drawn into the middle as the hosts broke forward with Kadidiatou Diani down the opposite flank. That left Sandy Baltimore unmarked at the back-post and she was there to hammer home her team-mates’ cross into the top corner.

The Lionesses had scored at the other end moments earlier but Ellen White had strayed offside before she finished off a well-worked move involving Walsh and Beth Mead.

There should have been two more goals before half-time with Valerie Gauvin firing over Baltimore’s cross from close range before Nikita Parris missed a great chance to equalise as she headed Walsh’s cross wide. 

Daly was forced to switch to left back as Niamh Charles replaced Alex Greenwood at the start of the second half. 

The Houstan Dash player is an attacker or midfielder by trade, and though she has played at full back for the Lionesses before, the 29-year-old looked uncomfortable and she conceded a penalty in the 63rd minute with a rash challenge on Elisa de Almeida. 

Sandy Baltimore (left) opened the scoring for France with a strike into the top corner

Ellie Roebuck had made a great save to tip Diani’s shot onto the crossbar but Daly clattered into de Almeida as both players went for the rebound. Viviane Asseyi converted the spot-kick as she sent Roebuck the wrong way.   

The introduction of Lauren Hemp in the 63rd minute changed the tempo as the Manchester City winger provided the spark England had been missing for the first hour. 

The 20-year-old won a penalty as she drew a foul from Marion Torrent in the box with Kirby converting to score her first international goal since July 2019.  

Viviane Asseyi celebrates after scoring the second goal for France in the 63rd minute

England looked like they would draw level as Hemp and Kirby continued to push forward for an equaliser and the chance came when the City player pulled the ball back for Walsh on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s shot came back off the post. 

France, who had been so dangerous on the counter-attack, broke forward with Diani again and she picked out Katoto who tapped in from close range.

The Lionesses will look to bounce back when they take on Canada at Stoke City’s Bet365 stadium on Tuesday.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s close-range effort three minutes later sealed victory




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article